Assessing the research capacity and culture of allied health workforce in a national private healthcare organisation
Sangeeta Rathi A B * , Rachel Resuggan A and Dave Parsons A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A St. John of God Healthcare, 556 Wellington Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
B School of Health Sciences and Physiotherapy, The University of Notre Dame Australia, 32 Mouat Street, Freemantle, WA 6160, Australia.
C Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
* Correspondence to: sangeeta.rathi@sjog.org.au
Australian Health Review 47(4) 509-517 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH23058
Submitted: 4 April 2023 Accepted: 14 June 2023 Published: 6 July 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA.
Abstract
Objective We set out to provide a benchmark assessment of allied health professionals’ research capacity and culture in a national private health care organisation, including identifying barriers and facilitators to staff participation in research.
Methods All allied health professionals across 16 sites were invited to participate in an online survey, using the research capacity and culture tool from 9 May to 17 June 2022. Descriptive analysis of each demographic variable was expressed in frequencies and percentages. Differences between organisation, team and individual domains were analysed as ordinal data (scale 1–9), and a mean score and standard deviation were calculated.
Results The survey was completed by 182 allied health professionals across 16 sites, with an estimated response rate of 12%. Overall results identified low levels of research support or skills at organisational and team levels and moderate levels of skills at an individual level. Respondents were motivated to participate in research ‘to develop skills’, for ‘improved job satisfaction’ and ‘career advancement’. Major barriers to participation in research were ‘lack of time’, ‘lack of resources’ and ‘other work roles taking priority’.
Conclusion The current study fills a knowledge gap by reporting the research capacity and culture among allied health professionals in a national private healthcare organisation in Australia. This study suggests that allied health professionals in private healthcare organisations perceive less than adequate levels of support at the team and organisational levels compared to their public counterparts. However, the barriers and motivators to participate in research activities were consistent with public hospitals.
Keywords: allied health research, health service research, private health, private healthcare research, research barriers, research capacity, research capacity building, research culture, research enablers, research translation.
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