Abstract
Background:
Health professionals working in health services are uniquely placed to carry out research to improve health service provision. Improving research capacity and culture in health organisations benefits patients, health professionals, health services and society more broadly. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to evaluate the current research capacity and culture within the Allied Health workforce in the publicly funded, non-metropolitan Northern New South Wales (NNSW) Local Health District (LHD). Additionally, the study aimed to explore whether Allied Health staff have undertaken research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and if so, whether the research was conducted in a culturally safe and responsive way.
Methods:
The validated Research Capacity and Culture tool was administered to the Allied Health workforce in NNSWLHD to evaluate the research capacity and culture, within and across three domains (Organisation, Team and Individual), including research involvement, perceived barriers and motivators for undertaking research, and participants’ experience in conducting research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and median responses between domains were compared. Qualitative data were obtained through two open-ended questions and were thematically analysed.
Results:
A total of 147 Allied Health professionals from 15 disciplines completed the survey. Participants reported low-to-moderate levels of skills and success across all three domains. Most participants were not currently involved in research. Motivators for undertaking research included encouragement by managers, research mentoring, and a problem identified that needs changing, whilst barriers were lack of time, other work roles take priority, lack of suitable backfill, and staff shortages. Few participants reported having ever contributed to a research project involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Conclusions:
Research capacity building strategies within Allied Health in NNSWLHD should utilise a “whole of system” approach, including research career pathways, funding, backfill, mentoring, opportunities to upskill in research writing and develop skills to conduct research in a culturally safe and responsive way. Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinicians to build research capacity can shape the health research agenda, inform health policies, support evidence-led clinical care, and in turn, the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Health professionals working in health services are uniquely placed to carry out research to improve health service provision. Improving research capacity and culture in health organisations benefits patients, health professionals, health services and society more broadly. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to evaluate the current research capacity and culture within the Allied Health workforce in the publicly funded, non-metropolitan Northern New South Wales (NNSW) Local Health District (LHD). Additionally, the study aimed to explore whether Allied Health staff have undertaken research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and if so, whether the research was conducted in a culturally safe and responsive way.
Methods:
The validated Research Capacity and Culture tool was administered to the Allied Health workforce in NNSWLHD to evaluate the research capacity and culture, within and across three domains (Organisation, Team and Individual), including research involvement, perceived barriers and motivators for undertaking research, and participants’ experience in conducting research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and median responses between domains were compared. Qualitative data were obtained through two open-ended questions and were thematically analysed.
Results:
A total of 147 Allied Health professionals from 15 disciplines completed the survey. Participants reported low-to-moderate levels of skills and success across all three domains. Most participants were not currently involved in research. Motivators for undertaking research included encouragement by managers, research mentoring, and a problem identified that needs changing, whilst barriers were lack of time, other work roles take priority, lack of suitable backfill, and staff shortages. Few participants reported having ever contributed to a research project involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Conclusions:
Research capacity building strategies within Allied Health in NNSWLHD should utilise a “whole of system” approach, including research career pathways, funding, backfill, mentoring, opportunities to upskill in research writing and develop skills to conduct research in a culturally safe and responsive way. Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinicians to build research capacity can shape the health research agenda, inform health policies, support evidence-led clinical care, and in turn, the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-50 |
| Number of pages | 50 |
| Journal | BMC Health Services Research |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 13 Dec 2025 |