Ms Sally Griffin1,2, Prof Elizabeth Ward1,3, Ms Rachelle Pitt4, Ms Liza-Jane McBride4, Dr Caitlin Brandenburg1,3
1Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Australia, 2Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Logan Hospital, Australia, 3School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia, 4Office for the Chief Allied Health Officer, Queensland Health, Australia
Biography:
Dr Caitlin Brandenburg is a Research Fellow at Metro South Health, Gold Coast Health and Bond University in Queensland. Caitlin's research interests are in health services research and clinician research capacity building.
Abstract:
Background:
Supporting Allied Health (AH) clinicians to pursue research careers within health services is a key strategic goal nationally. However, previous research has indicated that research careers are often “cobbled together” from multiple part-time and temporary roles, leading to clinician researcher dissatisfaction and attrition. This study aimed to understand current AH research positions in Queensland Health, including their structure and required capabilities.
Methods:
A cross-sectional e-survey of those in Queensland Health AH research roles was conducted. As the focus was on careers rather than short-term opportunities, only roles which were ≥12 months were eligible. The survey included questions about role structure and necessary capabilities across the five domains of the AH Research Careers Development Framework. Network and snowball sampling were used to maximise recruitment.
Results:
AH professions were fairly varied across the 44 participants, and most (80%) participants were concentrated in metropolitan south-east Queensland. Most participants (73%) were in part-time research roles, and 36% were temporary, usually for a 12-month contract. 16% were conjoint with a university. Roles varied greatly in their titles and expected functions. However almost all roles (98%) involved directly advising and mentoring clinical staff in research. Contributing to research strategy/partnerships and research education/training were also common (>85%). Capabilities required of the roles had equal representation (median=4) across the 5 framework domains.
Discussion/Conclusion:
There was a wide variety of research position types available to AH professionals requiring a broad range of capabilities. Findings support the need to more sustainably embed research career pathways in health services.