Research interest, engagement, capacity and capability
Principal Investigator(s): Professor Benita Olivier
Contact: benita.olivier@brookes.ac.uk +44 1865 48 2752
Project start: January 2024
Project finish: November 2024
About us
We are a team of researchers and clinicians from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of the Witwatersrand and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.
Our project aims to understand the research interest, engagement, capacity and capability of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists and psychologists (NMAHPPs) and wider healthcare staff in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
The objectives of the programme are to:
- develop a validated research interest, engagement, capacity, and capability data capture form (Project 1)
- determine the research interest, engagement, capacity, and capability annually among NMAHPPSs and Wider Healthcare Staff in OHFT using the data capture form developed in Project 1 (Project 2)
- evaluate the organisational research readiness of OHFT annually by mapping research support structures and activities on the Self-assessment of Organisational Readiness Tool (SORT) (Project 3)
- determine the strategic and operational priorities for enhancing research capacity and capability in OHFT (Project 4).
Research impact
- Project 1 will create a scientifically validated tool to consistently capture research interest and engagement data. This will eliminate the inconsistencies caused by different data formats and personal preferences. Consistently capturing data will help us monitor trends over time more effectively, allowing us to spot areas that need improvement and track progress. As the first tool of its kind in England, it can be adopted by other trusts, leading to a unified approach to capturing research-related data across the country. By validating the tool within Oxford Health Foundation Trust (OHFT), we ensure it is relevant and applicable to our local workforce, laying a strong foundation for future research projects.
- Insights from Project 2 will allow us to provide tailored support to staff in their research efforts, more effectively addressing individual needs. Understanding individual research interests and engagement levels will help OHFT cultivate a culture of research involvement among healthcare professionals. The results will help prioritise implementation strategies and monitor progress towards our strategic research development goals.
- Project 3 will evaluate OHFT’s existing research support structures and activities, showing our organisational readiness for research. Early adoption of the Self-assessment of Organisational Readiness Tool (SORT) tool shows OHFT’s commitment to fostering a research-friendly environment and positions us as a leader in organisational readiness assessments.
- Project 4 will draw the results from the preceding 3 projects together and will guide an implementation plan that aligns local support structures with national research strategies, enhancing our overall research capability and capacity. The study will set clear strategic and operational priorities for developing research capacity and capability within OHFT. The findings will guide evidence-based interventions and initiatives aimed at promoting a culture of research excellence and innovation.
Leadership
