Learning to navigate and enriching the research process by engaging in a collaborative practice research capacity strategy

Abstract

Engaging regulated health professionals in research is associated with greater service efficiencies and positive patient outcomes (reduced patient mortality and morbidity). This paper provides the results from a study undertaken to explore the perspectives and experiences of nurses and health disciplines participating in a collaborative practice based research (CPBR) capacity building educational program. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of nurses and other health disciplines in an interprofessional, collaborative research capacity building strategy. The interviews were analyzed using an inductive, thematic analysis process. Twelve members participating in the CPBR program who were female with 5 nurses, 3 occupational therapists, 2 social workers, 1 speech language pathologist and 1 research coordinator were recruited for the study. The following five themes emerged from the data: 1) learning to navigate the research landscape in a shared space; 2) providing an opportunity and support for interprofessional clinician driven research; 3) enriching the research process by engaging different professions to collaborate; 4) impacting current and future collaborative practice; and 5) keeping the momentum amidst experiencing challenges. Our study demonstrated the value of providing opportunity for nurses and health disciplines to engage in collaborative practice based research and undertake a project relevant to clinical practice that adds to the body of knowledge on the value of collaborative practice based research capacity building strategies and communities of practice.