posted on 2023-08-09, 06:45authored byOA King, A Wong Shee, Owen HowlettOwen Howlett, Renee Clapham, VL Versace
Introduction and Objective: Building rural health workforce research capacity is critical to addressing rural health inequalities. Research training is a mainstay research capacity building strategy. This paper describes the delivery and evaluation of a research training program for rural and regional allied health professions (AHPs). Design: A mentored research training program was delivered to AHPs employed public health services in rural and regional Victoria, Australia. The program was evaluated using the Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge Attitudes and Practice (EBP-KAP) tool at baseline and 3 months post-training. Semi-structured interviews undertaken at 3 and 16 months post-training explored participants' perspectives of the training, their development and application of EBP and research skills. Survey data were analysed descriptively, and interview data were analysed using a framework approach. Findings: Thirty-four individuals from 14 organisations attended the first workshop and 31 attended the second. Thirty-one participants completed the survey at baseline and nine at 3 months post-training. Sixteen interviews were undertaken with 11 participants, five participating at both time points. Participants had positive EBP attitudes at both time points. Overall, participants' knowledge and incorporation of EBP into their practice, and retrieval of evidence was unchanged 3 months post-training. Themes identified in the interview data were as follows: (1) individual research capacity enhanced through supported practice, (2) organisational factors influence individuals' progression of research and (3) individual contributions towards research capacity within the organisation. Conclusion: A mentored rural research training program promoted the application of EBP skills at the individual level and contributed to organisational research capacity.
Funding
The authors acknowledge and thank the Victorian Department of Health and Western Alliance for their financial support to deliver the training and conduct the evaluation
History
Publication Date
2022-10-01
Journal
Australian Journal of Rural Health
Volume
30
Issue
5
Pagination
12p. (p. 654-665)
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.