Development of a Rural and Remote Research Capacity Building Strategy for Queensland Hospital and Health Services
Rachelle Pitt1, Elizabeth McCourt2, Ilsa Nielsen1, Liza-Jane McBride11Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2Clinical Pharmacology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Background: Supporting the rural and remote health practitioner workforce to engage with, undertake, and translate research into practice offers benefits for patients, the workforce and the health system more broadly. However, many barriers exist that limit health practitioner research engagement such as workforce capacity, research capability, and limited research infrastructure. A multilevel research capacity building (RCB) strategy was needed for rural and remote Queensland that could be delivered in a coordinated way and addressed known challenges.
Method: Potential RCB strategies were identified from a literature review and considered in the context of the needs and preferences of relevant stakeholders (clinicians, researchers and leaders) who participated in phase one of consultation. A refined list of strategies was proposed in a second phase of consultation to confirm the acceptability and applicability of the initiatives and refine implementation plans.
Results: Findings identified the need for a multilevel and coordinated approach to RCB. Consultation highlighted that health practitioners valued opportunities for team-based research, support from experts who understood the rural and remote context, and strategies that enabled research skill development along a continuum of capability.
Outcomes: Five key RCB initiatives were identified for implementation including: 1) Graduate Diploma in Research Scholarship; 2)Translating Research Into Practice Fellowship; 3)Quality Improvement to Research Project Funding; 4) Research Placement Opportunity; and 5) Research Dissemination Funding. These strategies aim to support rural and regional health practitioners to engage with research, lead research, and translate research into practice to realise benefits for local communities and the health system more broadly.
Biography
Rachelle is the Director of Health Practitioner Research for the Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer, Queensland Health. Rachelle is committed to developing, implementing and evaluating research capacity building strategies targeted at all levels of the health system that enables clinicians to solve health service challenges and address evidence gaps with research and knowledge translation. Rachelle is also passionate about research that adds to the evidence for the delivery of telehealth and exploring how digital innovations are able to be sustainably implemented in health services and systems.