TY - JOUR
T1 - On becoming a practitioner-researcher in remote northern Australia
T2 - Personal commitment and resources compensate for structural deterrents to research
AU - Cusick, Anne
AU - Lannin, Natasha
PY - 2008/12/23
Y1 - 2008/12/23
N2 - Aim. This study critically explores the experience of one clinician who developed the practitioner-researcher role in a remote hospital. Participant. One occupational therapist working in rehabilitation who had never previously done or been trained for research but who completed and published a randomized controlled trial. Setting. Government hospital rehabilitation ward in remote northern Australia. Method. Data from a reflective journal and project records were content analysed using a conceptual framework of the metropolitan practitioner-researcher experience. Results. The participant's experience was similar to that of metropolitan practitioner-researchers as it was not just a matter of doing research, but rather one of role change from practitioner to researcher. The remote context created structural conditions that discouraged and hindered research and made the task of researcher role development challenging with high personal costs. Research deterrents included a lack of: Research-related infrastructure (such as information technology), research development policy, research accommodations in job descriptions, dedicated funding to support research time release and training, and research support networks. These deterrents were a consequence of the remote setting. Investment of substantial personal time, money and use of pro bono city research advisers was required to compensate for structural deterrents to ensure project completion. Conclusion. Researcher role development was central to project success, the remote context dominated role development processes and personal resources were needed to compensate for structural research deterrents.
AB - Aim. This study critically explores the experience of one clinician who developed the practitioner-researcher role in a remote hospital. Participant. One occupational therapist working in rehabilitation who had never previously done or been trained for research but who completed and published a randomized controlled trial. Setting. Government hospital rehabilitation ward in remote northern Australia. Method. Data from a reflective journal and project records were content analysed using a conceptual framework of the metropolitan practitioner-researcher experience. Results. The participant's experience was similar to that of metropolitan practitioner-researchers as it was not just a matter of doing research, but rather one of role change from practitioner to researcher. The remote context created structural conditions that discouraged and hindered research and made the task of researcher role development challenging with high personal costs. Research deterrents included a lack of: Research-related infrastructure (such as information technology), research development policy, research accommodations in job descriptions, dedicated funding to support research time release and training, and research support networks. These deterrents were a consequence of the remote setting. Investment of substantial personal time, money and use of pro bono city research advisers was required to compensate for structural deterrents to ensure project completion. Conclusion. Researcher role development was central to project success, the remote context dominated role development processes and personal resources were needed to compensate for structural research deterrents.
KW - Allied health
KW - Northern Australia
KW - Practitioner-research
KW - Research development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57749113882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09638280701746538
DO - 10.1080/09638280701746538
M3 - Article
C2 - 18608393
AN - SCOPUS:57749113882
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 30
SP - 1984
EP - 1998
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 26
ER -