Dr Kristen Ranse1, Ms Katherine Richards2, Dr Andrew Broadbent2
1Cancer and Palliative Outcomes Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia, 2Specialist Palliative Care, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Australia
Biography:
Kristen Ranse, RN, is an Associate Professor at the Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, QUT. Kristen’s program of research aims to support clinicians to engage in skilled compassionate care for patients at the end-of-life and their families. A focus of this work is affording appropriate treatment and care to patients at the right time and facilitating patient and family centred care across diverse care settings and during patient transitions between settings. Collaborative research partnerships with health services ensure research is targeted to current needs and provides contextually relevant solutions to real world problems.
Abstract:
Background:
By 2040, Gold Coast, Queensland is anticipated to be the first non-capital city to reach a population of one million residents. As the Specialist Palliative Care Service at Gold Coast Health rapidly expands to meet current and future demand, research capacity building was identified as a strategic initiative that could enhance both quality of care and organisational culture.
Aim:
To describe the research capacity building initiative developed by one Specialist Palliative Care service and the outcomes achieved to date.
Methods:
Using experience-based co-design methodology, this project engaged multidisciplinary clinicians with varied levels of experience within the palliative care service and an external research academic. A steering committee was established and clinician surveys comprising open-ended questions and focus groups were used to identify barriers, enablers, and research focus areas relevant to palliative care. Content analysis was undertaken on data collected.
Results:
Overall, 16 clinicians completed a survey and 29 clinicians participated in a focus group. Common barriers to engaging in research were identified, including a lack of knowledge/confidence of research processes and methods, inadequate time and research costs. Clinicians exhibited a strong interest and enthusiasm for research acknowledging enablers such as supportive leadership and culture within the service, the engagement of an external research academic, and mentoring and support opportunities. Research focus areas included clinical topics, health service research and workforce capacity building. An increase in palliative care clinician engagement in research projects and dissemination of research findings through conference presentations and submission of manuscripts for publication has occurred.
Conclusion:
A co-designed approach to building research capacity has contributed to the generation of a collaborative research culture in one specialist palliative care service. Ongoing monitoring, evaluation and refinement of the research capacity building initiative continues to ensure impact, success and sustainability.