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Starting out in research. Professor John Dixon Health & Social Care Institute, Teesside University CSP NE Network March 2016. Content. Advice & tips for starting out in research Why research? Developing ideas Support: CSP & Council for AHP Research (CAHPR) NE England support
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Starting out in research Professor John Dixon Health & Social Care Institute, Teesside University CSP NE Network March 2016
Content • Advice & tips for starting out in research • Why research? • Developing ideas • Support: CSP & Council for AHP Research (CAHPR) • NE England support • Options, both funded and unfunded • Examples • Discussion
Why talk about research? • Advice often requested • Research is important • To improve health outcomes • To evidence your role: commissioning-led NHS and increasing need for data • But research is challenging • Various barriers exist • Confidence & awareness important (in my view)
How to start: developing ideas • Keep it simple • You know your area, and the gaps in knowledge • Develop research questions (with advice) • Be up-to-date on the evidence base • Think about your aim – what do you want? • Starting up, you do not need to do RCTs • Simpler is always easier for numerous reasons • Evidence needs to be built up logically & ethically
A bit of theory on that • MRC Framework for Development & Evaluation of RCTs for complex interventions... • Looks complex, but can be very helpful • Shows importance of exploratory/feasibility research & service evaluation • To you • To any review bodies • (Don’t get hung up on the “complex interventions” term)
MRC examples in our area • Pre-clinical - reviews • Phase 1 – observational studies, pre-post studies (research or service evaluation) • Phase 2 – exploratory controlled trials • Phase 3 – fully powered RCTs • Precise categorisation may be context-dependent (and is not vitally important)
Relevance of Framework • “uncomplicated” research is important • Shows the relevance of exploratory/feasibility research & service evaluation • i.e. research that novices can carry out • Building block to improving care • Jumping to RCTs can be extremely costly & unethical • Helps with barriers & motivation • Also shows why work should be disseminated
Categorisation • Service evaluation vs research • evaluate effect of a service vs generalising • R&D should decide, but in reality it can be down to your plans – to generalise or not? • SE studies are important, and feasible for you • Ethics fast track “proportionate review” system. Examples: research when non-drug & no change to care; some questionnaires
Support structures • Council for AHP Research (CAHPR) • Established by CSP: • Build research capacity and capability within the Allied Health Professions to develop the scientific evidence base for practice. • Support the implementation of the evidence base within practice • http://www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/research/networking-support/council-allied-health-professions-research
CAHPR history • 2004: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy issued a call for an individual to act as ‘research champion’ for the profession • A university consortium of professors responded with an alternative ‘network’ suggestion • 2005: CSP approves the Hub network proposal and agrees to fund for a 5 year period • June 2005: the National Physiotherapy Research Network (NPRN) was officially launched
CAHPR history • Between 2009 and 2011 discussions took place re an AHP network. Hubs were already involving a range of AHPs. • AHP professional bodies approached to formally sign up: BDA,BIOS,COP,COT,SOCP,SOR,SLT and CSP all formally involved, and pay an annual subscription. • Other professions interested for the future. • AHPRN officially launched June 2012 • Rebranded as CAHPR 2014.
NE England Hub • NE England Hub of CAHPR (TU & NU) • Hub leaders: Cormac Ryan, John Dixon • Hub Facilitators include: Katherine Baker, Helen Atkin, Amanda Trees, Denis Martin, Liz Holey, Claire Brewis, Josette Bettany-Saltikov, Paul Elliot • We disseminate research information (e.g. funding) • We are happy to help if at all possible • Work with you, advise, refer you to relevant sites or experts, facilitate collaboration: neofengahprn@tees.ac.uk
Outcomes of CAHPR activity • Increased confidence in and readiness for research, • Increased awareness of new evidence, • Formation of new Collaborations/networks, • Sharing of research priorities, methods and approaches, • Development of new research questions, • Increases in Grant applications, • PhD Enrolments, • Increased standing and visibility locally in the field
Other support structures • Professional networks, HEIs • NHS R&D depts • CDTV Research Collaborative (Primary Care) • NHS Research design service (NECS) • Clinical research networks • Dissemination examples: • Conferences: PNs, Physiotherapy Research Society • Journals e.g.: Pain and Rehabilitation - Journal of the Physiotherapy Pain Association
Funding • Competitive • But lots of expertise locally in HEIs & NHS • NIHR Clinical Academic Training Prog, RfPB • for strong projects, CATP CDRF for PhDs • important to have applications from AHPs • Think outside the box re funders • e.g. British Geriatics Society, HEA, PNs & Societies, • Pilot research data frequently helps success • Build team – use support structures
Key point • You can often carry out these type of “early phase” studies without funding • Within clinical practice • Within HEIs • Use support & expertise to develop plans
Conclusion • Research is feasible • Research is important • A range of types and scale – all important • Ask for support and help • NE Hub email: neofengahprn@tees.ac.uk
References • CAHPR: http://www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/research/networking-support/council-allied-health-professions-research • http://www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/research/networking-support/cahpr-regional-hubs • MRC 2000: http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC003372 • MRC 2008: http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC004871 • NE RDS : http://rds-ne.nihr.ac.uk/ • HEE/NIHR Clin Academic programme: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/nihr-hee-ica-programme.htm • PRS: http://prs.csp.org.uk/ • PPA PN Journal http://ppa.csp.org.uk/group-journal Email: john.dixon@tees.ac.ukneofengahprn@tees.ac.uk