An Australian Centre for Allied Health Research and Evidence: a scoping study

Transcription

1 An Australian Centre for Allied Health Research and Evidence: a scoping study Professor Alison Perry Chair School of Human Communication Sciences La Trobe University, Australia

2 Background: Allied Health (AH) staff are still relatively young to research Considerable work is needed to develop and promote a research culture in clinical practice in Australia Many examples of good research(ers) but tend to be: Disorder-based (e.g., aphasia, stuttering, gait, etc) Within each profession, rather than cross-disciplines Not necessarily (yet?) fully integrated in terms of providing good evidence-based models of multi-disciplinary AH care

3 Background (cont): Healthcare is being transferred from hospitals to community or home settings, esp. chronic illness Changes to Australian health workforce Need for quality, integrated, managed healthcare Lack of available/accessible data about models of best practice in AH models either have not been developed or have not been scientifically tested Need to develop the research base necessary for underpinning models of good practice across AH

4 Approach to The Menzies Foundation

5 The Scoping study / Needs analysis: A Centre for Allied Health Research Purpose: To examine the views of potential stakeholders To aggregate and report on those views Propose a model for a Centre for Allied Health Research that would meet the needs of all the stakeholders

6 The Scoping study - A Centre for Allied Health Research Method: Appoint a Research Associate (Carol Chenco) Establish a multi-disciplinary project planning team: - Ms Jenelle Loeliger, Senior Dietitian, Peter Mac Cancer Centre - Dr Carol McKinstry, School of Occupational Therapy, LTU - Professor Meg Morris, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne - Professor Susan Paxton, School of Psychology, LTU - Professor Alison Perry (PI), Human Communication Sciences, LTU Establish/ maintain website for communication and transparency

7 The Scoping study - A Centre for Allied Health Research Method (cont): Contact relevant stakeholders, e.g., Chronic Illness Alliance Professional organisations University Deans, Heads of Schools of Allied Health in Victoria AH Clinicians, Managers, across Victoria Menzies scholars Dept of Human Services, Victoria Community Heath: IECHS, Victoria Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania; Centre for Allied Health evidence, University of South Australia NHMRC Organise Focus Groups; Individual interviews; Feedback via web

8 The Scoping study - A Centre for Allied Health Research Method: Qualitative design Focus Groups - Four themes examined / coded: - The Need for an Allied Health Research Centre - The Site for an Allied Health Research Centre - Governance of an Allied Health Research Centre - Research to be undertaken at an Allied Health Research Centre Approx hours each. Sessions audio-taped, points documented and then sent back to participants to verify. Individual Interviews; - Above four themes recorded and coded Website - encourage feedback/comments

9 The Scoping study - A Centre for Allied Health Research Results - Participation: Seventeen Focus Groups; in excess of 150 participants Individual interviews: Deans (three) Staff at Menzies Institute, Tasmania Staff at Centre for Allied Health evidence, SA Staff at DHS, Victoria NHMRC representation, Canberra Community Health Sector - CEO of IECHS, Melbourne Web feedback: Three participants who could not attend Focus Groups

10 The Scoping study Results Theme 1: The Need Agreed: Multi-disciplinary research across Allied Health, involving good multi-site collaboration Capacity-building leadership in Allied Health research Teaching / training clinicians in research methods Creating excellence in research outputs Meaningful, impactful research that improves EBP Co-ordination of Allied Health research in Australia A potent mix of Research, Promotion and Advocacy for Allied Health

11 The Scoping study Theme 2: The Site Agreed: A physical presence (not just virtual ) A designated building, or a set of offices A degree of independence from hospitals or universities An academic-clinical interface Easy access via public transport, etc. Centrally located; City-centric but with nodes to rural/ other sites Excellent internet/virtual component

12 The Scoping study Theme 3: Governance Agreed: A degree of independence in its governance Auspiced (in some way) by The Menzies Foundation Appoint a charismatic, quality Professor-Director An independent Board to assist the director with advice, direction and focus A core of about 20 research staff for meaningful studies/research to happen Partnerships/ linkages across Hospitals, Universities, Community Health sectors, advocacy/charitable groups, private health sector Hybrid funding model - from State/Federal Government, Sponsors / Philanthropists, and a subscriber base shares? Need a guarantee of solid funding (e.g., for 5 years) to get the Centre established and properly running

13 The Scoping study - Theme 4: Research to be Undertaken Agreed: Translational research from the bench to the bedside Clinical Trials, RCTs to determine therapy efficacy, effectiveness Improving evidence-based management, especially of people with chronic disease (e.g., neuro-disability, stroke, cancer) Establishing evidence based care pathways so that the right people are in the right place at the right time to achieve the right outcome Better management of people with a disability (e.g., children with neurodisability; adults with progressive conditions; post-stroke/ post TBI; with ageing co-morbidities) living better with a disability.. Psycho-education designing quality packages of health promotion and self-care materials for patients/clients; carers and professionals. Includes DVDs, videos, booklets, etc.

14 A Centre for Allied Health Research- The proposal: The Centre will be called The Australian Centre for Allied Health Research and Evidence The philosophy underpinning the Centre will be collaborative multi-disciplinary research The focus of the Centre will be to capacity-build Allied Health research in Australia by: Undertaking novel multi-disciplinary research studies Teaching/training in research methods and EBP Health promotion/education

15 A Centre for Allied Health Research: The proposal (cont) The Centre will have a physical base and a virtual component Staff at the Centre will: - Provide research advice, direction, to AH staff Developing clinical questions into research protocols Build a clinical research culture at academic-clinical interface - Match studies to research staff and to funding bodies Develop/maintain research databases of existing and potential AH researchers, grants, philanthropic trusts, etc - Train and mentor (1:1) interested AH clinical researchers

16 A Centre for Allied Health Research: The Benefits: Patients/clients/carers - Having therapy supported by an evidence base - Access to quality information, evidence based advice Allied Health clinicians - Designated research Centre with supportive staff for research assistance - A place for quality inter-disciplinary research training Allied Health academics - Establish research networks - Centre to build/promote multi-disciplinary research Teams Postgraduate Allied Health students - A Centre of excellence - a resource for developing research career pathways DHS, NHMRC A Centre for capacity-building quality AH clinical research in Australia