Research doesn’t seem so scary: Evaluation of a health-service-wide research capability building initiative

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the changes in confidence, experience and interest in research of healthcare professionals who participated in a research capability building initiative.

Methodology: A single-site cohort study in an outer metropolitan health service with an embedded mixed-methods design was used. Eighteen health professionals participated in a research ambassador initiative (involving monthly research-education sessions and a research workshop). Participants completed customised surveys about their research experience, confidence and interest at baseline and six-to-nine months later. Interviews exploring participants’ experiences of the initiative were also conducted. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, while qualitative data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings: Eighteen health professionals commenced the program, with nine completing both baseline and follow-up measures. Interest in research tasks was higher than experience and confidence at both time points. There was a significant increase in experience writing a research proposal (p = 0.034), but no significant change in experience, confidence or interest for any other research tasks (all p > 0.05). Four overarching themes were generated: prior expectations, adding value to research capability, ‘pitching it right’ and vision of future initiative(s).

Research implications: Further refinement and evaluation are required to ensure that the initiative not only meets health service needs, but also leads to tangible improvements in research capability.

Practical implications: This research highlights that a targeted practical approach is required to increase skills of health professionals in specific research tasks.

Originality: This research explored a novel initiative designed to increase health-service research activity through education.
Limitations: A key limitation is the small sample size and use of self-reporting measures.