Perceptions of research capacity in public health organisations: comparison of NSW metropolitan and non-metropolitan Local Health Districts
Nicole Raschke A * , Joanne Bradbury B and Jacqui Yoxall B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Mid North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia.
B Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
* Correspondence to: Nicole.Raschke@health.nsw.gov.au
Australian Health Review 46(6) 746-755 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH22100
Submitted: 19 June 2022 Accepted: 14 October 2022 Published: 18 November 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Objective The aims of this study were to explore and compare the perceptions of research capacity and culture (RCC) in metropolitan and non-metropolitan New South Wales (NSW) Local Health Districts (LHDs).
Methods The Research Capacity and Culture Tool was delivered online to clinicians and health managers. A 10-point Likert scale of success or skill at organisational, team and individual level of research capacity was used. An independent t-test assessed differences in domain means between non-metropolitan and metropolitan LHDs.
Results A total of 1243 participants responded. Responses to the survey indicated the perception of individual’s research skills were greater than the perception of RCC at both the team and organisational levels. Participants from metropolitan locations had significantly higher mean scores across all three domains compared with non-metropolitan locations (P < 0.001).
Conclusion Results indicated the perception of individual’s research skills were greater than the team and organisational levels. Participants from metropolitan locations had significantly higher perceptions of RCC across all three domains compared with non-metropolitan locations. This was the largest study to date in Australia investigating RCC in NSW LHDs, and the first study to explore multiple professions across multiple organisations while comparing metropolitan and non-metropolitan settings. This research may inform targeted strategies for building research capacity in NSW LHDs.
Keywords: individual, organisational, perceptions, regional, research capacity, research culture, rural, team.
References
[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia’s Health 2018. Canberra: Department of Health; 2018. Contract No.: Cat No.AUS 221.[2] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Rural & remote health: Web Report. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Department of Health; 2019.
[3] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Rural, regional and remote health: indicators of health status and determinants of health. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Department of Health; 2008.
[4] Rural Health Standing Committee. National Strategic Framework for Rural and Remote Health. Canberra: Department of Health; 2011.
[5] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia’s health 2014. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2014. Available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129548150 [verified 24 May 2017].
[6] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia’s health 2016. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Health; 2016.
[7] Russell L. Economics of rural healthcare – what works? 2017. Available at https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2017/17/economics-of-rural-health-care-what-works/ [verified 29 December 2020].
[8] Goodridge D, Marciniuk D. Rural and remote care: Overcoming the challenges of distance. Chron Respir Dis 2016; 13 192–203.
| Rural and remote care: Overcoming the challenges of distance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Mason J. Review of Australian Government Health Workforce Programs. Canberra: Australian Government, Department of Health; 2013.
[10] Department of Health (Australia). Report on the Audit of Health Workforce in Rural and Regional Australia. Canberra: Australian Government; 2008.
[11] Barclay L, Phillips A, Lyle D. Rural and remote health research: Does the investment match the need? Aust J Rural Health 2018; 26 74–9.
| Rural and remote health research: Does the investment match the need?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[12] Strasser R. Rural health around the world: challenges and solutions. Fam Pract 2003; 20 457–63.
| Rural health around the world: challenges and solutions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[13] NSW Ministry of Health. Annual Report 2018-2019. Sydney: NSW Health; 2019. Available at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/annualreport/Publications/annual-report-2019.pdf [verified 20 September 2020].
[14] Holden L, Pager S, Golenko X, Ware RS. Validation of the research capacity and culture (RCC) tool: measuring RCC at individual, team and organisation levels. Aust J Prim Health 2012; 18 62–7.
| Validation of the research capacity and culture (RCC) tool: measuring RCC at individual, team and organisation levels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[15] Alison JA, Zafiropoulos B, Heard R. Key factors influencing allied health research capacity in a large Australian metropolitan health district. J Multidiscip Healthc 2017; 10 277–91.
| Key factors influencing allied health research capacity in a large Australian metropolitan health district.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] Matus J, Wenke R, Hughes I, Mickan S. Evaluation of the research capacity and culture of allied health professionals in a large regional public health service. J Multidiscip Healthc 2019; 12 83–96.
| Evaluation of the research capacity and culture of allied health professionals in a large regional public health service.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] IBM Corp. IBM SPSS Statistics for Macintosh, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp; 2019.
[18] Friesen EL, Comino EJ, Reath J, Derrett A, Johnson M, Davies GP, et al. Building research capacity in south-west Sydney through a Primary and Community Health Research Unit. Aust J Prim Health 2014; 20 4–8.
| Building research capacity in south-west Sydney through a Primary and Community Health Research Unit.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[19] Wenke R, Weir KA, Noble C, Mahoney J, Mickan S. Not enough time for research? Use of supported funding to promote allied health research activity. J Multidiscip Healthc 2018; 11 269–77.
| Not enough time for research? Use of supported funding to promote allied health research activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[20] Wenke RJ, Mickan S, Bisset L. A cross sectional observational study of research activity of allied health teams: is there a link with self-reported success, motivators and barriers to undertaking research? BMC Health Serv Res 2017; 17 114
| A cross sectional observational study of research activity of allied health teams: is there a link with self-reported success, motivators and barriers to undertaking research?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[21] McBride KE, Young JM, Bannon PG, Solomon MJ. Assessing surgical research at the teaching hospital level. ANZ J Surg 2017; 87 70–5.
| Assessing surgical research at the teaching hospital level.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[22] Gill SD, Gwini SM, Otmar R, Lane SE, Quirk F, Fuscaldo G. Assessing research capacity in Victoria’s south-west health service providers. Aust J Rural Health 2019; 27 505–13.
| Assessing research capacity in Victoria’s south-west health service providers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[23] Williams C, Miyazaki K, Borkowski D, McKinstry C, Cotchet M, Haines T. Research capacity and culture of the Victorian public health allied health workforce is influenced by key research support staff and location. Aust Health Rev 2015; 39 303–11.
| Research capacity and culture of the Victorian public health allied health workforce is influenced by key research support staff and location.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[24] Howard AJ, Ferguson M, Wilkinson P, Campbell KL. Involvement in research activities and factors influencing research capacity among dietitians. J Hum Nutr Diet 2013; 26 180–7.
| Involvement in research activities and factors influencing research capacity among dietitians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[25] Schmidt DD, Webster E, Duncanson K. Building research experience: Impact of a novice researcher development program for rural health workers. Aust J Rural Health 2019; 27 392–7.
| Building research experience: Impact of a novice researcher development program for rural health workers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[26] Harvey D, Plummer D, Nielsen I, Adams R, Pain T. Becoming a clinician researcher in allied health. Aust Health Rev 2016; 40 562–9.
| Becoming a clinician researcher in allied health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[27] Boyd M, Gall SB, Rothpletz-Puglia P, Parrott JS, King C, Byham-Gray L. Characteristics and Drivers of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’s Sustained Involvement in Clinical Research Activities: A Mixed Methods Study. J Acad Nutr Diet 2019; 119 2099–108.
| Characteristics and Drivers of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’s Sustained Involvement in Clinical Research Activities: A Mixed Methods Study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[28] Mickan S, Coates D. Embedded researchers’ purpose and practice: Current perspectives from Australia. Int J Health Plann Manage 2022; 37 133–42.
| Embedded researchers’ purpose and practice: Current perspectives from Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[29] Bornbaum CC, Kornas K, Peirson L, Rosella LC. Exploring the function and effectiveness of knowledge brokers as facilitators of knowledge translation in health-related settings: a systematic review and thematic analysis. Implement Sci 2015; 10 162
| Exploring the function and effectiveness of knowledge brokers as facilitators of knowledge translation in health-related settings: a systematic review and thematic analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[30] Faulkner-Gurstein R, Jones HC, McKevitt C. “Like a nurse but not a nurse”: Clinical Research Practitioners and the evolution of the clinical research delivery workforce in the NHS. Health Res Policy Syst 2019; 17 59
| “Like a nurse but not a nurse”: Clinical Research Practitioners and the evolution of the clinical research delivery workforce in the NHS.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[31] Commonwealth of Australia. Medical Research Future Fund: Australia medical research and innovation strategy 2016-2021. Canberra: Australian Government; 2016.
[32] NSW Ministry of Health. Translational Research Grant Scheme. Sydney: Office of Health and Medical Research; 2020. Available at https://www.medicalresearch.nsw.gov.au/translational-research-grants-scheme/ [verified 1 November 2020].
[33] Coates D, Mickan S. The embedded researcher model in Australian healthcare settings: comparison by degree of “embeddedness”. Transl Res 2020; 218 29–42.
| The embedded researcher model in Australian healthcare settings: comparison by degree of “embeddedness”.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[34] Slade SC, Philip K, Morris ME. Frameworks for embedding a research culture in allied health practice: a rapid review. Health Res Policy Syst 2018; 16 29
| Frameworks for embedding a research culture in allied health practice: a rapid review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[35] Cooke J. A framework to evaluate research capacity building in health care. BMC Fam Pract 2005; 6 44
| A framework to evaluate research capacity building in health care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[36] Matus J, Walker A, Mickan S. Research capacity building frameworks for allied health professionals – a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18 716
| Research capacity building frameworks for allied health professionals – a systematic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[37] Gullick JG, West SH. Building research capacity and productivity among advanced practice nurses: an evaluation of the Community of Practice model. J Adv Nurs 2016; 72 605–19.
| Building research capacity and productivity among advanced practice nurses: an evaluation of the Community of Practice model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[38] Smith H, Wright D, Morgan S, Dunleavey J, Moore M. The ‘Research Spider’: a simple method of assessing research experience. Prim Health Care Res Dev 2002; 3 139–40.
| The ‘Research Spider’: a simple method of assessing research experience.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[39] Schmidt D, Reyment J, Webster E, Kirby S, Lyle D. Workplace-based health research training: a qualitative study of perceived needs in a rural setting. Health Res Policy Syst 2020; 18 67
| Workplace-based health research training: a qualitative study of perceived needs in a rural setting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[40] Byars-Winston AM, Branchaw J, Pfund C, Leverett P, Newton J. Culturally Diverse Undergraduate Researchers’ Academic Outcomes and Perceptions of Their Research Mentoring Relationships. Int J Sci Educ 2015; 37 2533–54.
| Culturally Diverse Undergraduate Researchers’ Academic Outcomes and Perceptions of Their Research Mentoring Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[41] NSW Health and Education Institute. Rural Research Capacity Building Program. 2022. Available at https://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/courses-and-programs/rural-research-capacity-building-program [verified 7 September 2022].
[42] Duncanson K, Webster EL, Schmidt DD. Impact of a remotely delivered, writing for publication program on publication outcomes of novice researchers. Rural Remote Health 2018; 18 4468
| Impact of a remotely delivered, writing for publication program on publication outcomes of novice researchers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[43] Luckson M, Duncan F, Rajai A, Haigh C. Exploring the research culture of nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) in a research-focused and a non-research-focused healthcare organisation in the UK. J Clin Nurs 2018; 27 e1462–76.
| Exploring the research culture of nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) in a research-focused and a non-research-focused healthcare organisation in the UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[44] Becker D, Garth H, Hollander R, Klein F, Klau M. Understanding Faculty and Trainee Needs Related to Scholarly Activity in a Large, Nonuniversity Graduate Medical Education Program. Perm J 2017; 21 16-034
| Understanding Faculty and Trainee Needs Related to Scholarly Activity in a Large, Nonuniversity Graduate Medical Education Program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[45] Gimeno H, Alderson L, Waite G, Chugh D, O’Connor G, Pepper L, et al. Frontline Allied Health Professionals in a Tertiary Children’s Hospital: Moving Forward Research Capacity, Culture and Engagement. Int J Pract-Based Learn Health Soc Care 2021; 9 29–49.
| Frontline Allied Health Professionals in a Tertiary Children’s Hospital: Moving Forward Research Capacity, Culture and Engagement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[46] Lee SA, Byth K, Gifford JA, Balasubramanian M, Fozzard CA, Skapetis T, et al. Assessment of Health Research Capacity in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD): A Study on Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals. J Multidiscip Healthc 2020; 13 153–63.
| Assessment of Health Research Capacity in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD): A Study on Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[47] Friesen EL, Comino EJ. Research culture and capacity in community health services: results of a structured survey of staff. Aust J Prim Health 2016; 23 123–31.
| Research culture and capacity in community health services: results of a structured survey of staff.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[48] Cosgrave C. Context Matters: Findings from a Qualitative Study Exploring Service and Place Factors Influencing the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Australian Public Health Services. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17 5815
| Context Matters: Findings from a Qualitative Study Exploring Service and Place Factors Influencing the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Australian Public Health Services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
