Research Surveys

An Exploratory Study: The Presence of Imposter Syndrome in New Graduate Allied Health Professionals and its Relationship to Location of Practice

University Affiliation: James Cook University

Ethics Approval/ Reference Number: H9338

Principal Researcher: Samantha Barber

Supervisor/s: Dr. Carol Flavell

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to report the presence of imposter syndrome (IS) in recently graduated AHPs, and to determine if there is an association between IS and AHPs geographic work location, through an online survey.

Target Audience: New graduate allied health professionals living and working in Australia.

Participation Criteria: 
Be one of the following allied health professionals:
(Volunteers must meet all criteria)

•  Audiologists, Chiropractors, Dieticians, Exercise Physiologists, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Radiographers and Speech Pathologists.
•  Have graduated between November 2021 and December 2023
•  Currently practicing and living in Australia.

Confidentiality Arrangements: The online survey is entirely voluntary and anonymous.
Data will be stored on Qualtrics, it will be anonymous and stored by the primary researcher into SPSS, which will be stored on the Research Data JCU Platform in accordance with JCU Policy (15-years post completion of the study).

Proposed Use of Data: Once the research has been completed, dissemination of results will be developed into a thesis and oral presentation as part of the subject RH5203/RH5204 which are a part of a Master of Rural Generalist Practice degree at JCU. This will be disseminated by the wider JCU community, with a primary focus on discourse through medical and rehabilitation science disciplines, inclusive of presentations and posters at conferences. Additionally, peer reviewed publication in a relevant journal is proposed, with additional presentation at conferences.

Timeframe: 30-minute online survey

Survey Link: Click here. 

Contact Details: 
Samantha Barber
Samantha.Barber@my.jcu.edu.au

Dr. Carol Flavell
Carol.Flavell@jcu.edu.au

Download the information in PDF format here and the participant flyer here.

Residential Aged Care: Tell us your research priorities / Tell us what matters most in residential aged care

The National Centre for Healthy Ageing Residential Aged Care Research Network (RACReN), wants to hear what you think are the most important areas to research in residential aged care.

In late 2022, 81 people representing a range of stakeholders completed Round 1 of the survey (download results summary - PDF, 234 KB), ranking the importance of 93 different research topics for residential aged care. They agreed that 32 of these research topics were very or extremely important to research in residential aged care.

This survey asks you to vote on these 32 research topics to identify a short list of the 10 most critical items for residential aged care research.

This information will be shared with aged care researchers to make sure they are researching what matters most to everyone involved in residential aged care.

We want to hear from you if you:

• have a family member or friend that is living, or has lived, in a residential aged care home;
• live in a residential aged care home; OR
• work in or with a residential aged care home - this includes PCAs, nurses, cleaners, cooks, and visiting allied health and primary care clinicians

Participation involves completing 1-2 short surveys (10-20 minutes) over the next year.

Participants go into the draw to win one of 10 x $100 eGift Cards for Surveys 2 and 3.

Learn more and fill in the survey.

If you have any questions or need support to complete the survey, please contact ncha.racren@monash.edu or the RACReN team on (03) 9904 4822.

Dementia training

University Affiliation: Monash University

Ethics Approval/Reference Number: Monash University HREC project ID 38423

Principle Researcher: A/Professor Michele Callisaya

Supervisor(s): Dr Angel Lee, Ms Catherine Devanny

Purpose of study:
This education project aims to reduce stigma associated with dementia, increase knowledge in dementia and dementia rehabilitation, and to promote access to rehabilitation for people with dementia.

Participation Criteria:
Allied health professionals, Aged Care and NDIS case managers/care coordinators working with community-dwelling older people or people with dementia
Work in Eastern or South Eastern areas of Melbourne

Study involvement:

• Participate in a dementia rehabilitation e-module (4 weeks) and community of practice (12 months)
• Complete three online surveys before, during and after the study.
• The total time for all activities will be approximately 15 hours in duration over 12 months (Late January 2024 to December 2024 / January 2025).

Contact Details: Dr Angel Lee (angel.lee@monash.edu)

Download a flyer about the study (PDF, 183 KB)

National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health

Emerging Minds is inviting occupational therapists to complete the 2023 National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health.

The survey captures current capabilities, practice challenges and learning needs for a broad range of workers in understanding and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and families.

We had a great response from OTs in the first survey back in 2021, and we are keen to hear from OTs again as this is a key workforce positioned to support the wellbeing of children and parents.

With enough responses, we are able to extract data for OTs and report back on their workforce needs directly to your sector if you desire. 

People do not need to work with children or have a focus on mental health to participate.

Here is some information about the survey, which you can forward to your networks:

Who is this survey for?

Emerging Minds invites workers in Australia who:

• have a focus on child clients, adult clients, or families; or
• do not work directly with clients but do work in health, social or community service sectors. 

Win 1 of 3 remaining iPads!

• Participants can enter a draw to win an iPad. The first prize has happened and two lucky respondents have taken home their iPads, but there are still three iPads to be won and will be drawn in November 2023. 

What else do I need to know about this survey?

• Your survey responses are anonymous – if you would like to enter the prize draw, your contact details will be captured separately. 
• We will use this data in reports, research and to communicate your needs to sectors, agencies, policymakers, and government.  It will also be used to guide the development of Emerging Minds resources to better support your workforce. 
• The survey takes about 25 mins to complete.

Take the Survey here 
or copy and paste this URL into your browser https://survey.zohopublic.com.au/zs/MBBtNU?link=partners  

The survey is open now and closes on 15th November 2023

To learn more about the survey, check out the Emerging Minds website to read, download, watch or listen to the results of the previous survey in 2020-21, or contact Dr Melinda Goodyear, Manager,  Research and Evaluation, Emerging Minds at goodyearm@emergingminds.com.au 

Forward this email to your networks, use of our suggested blurbs for your publications or download this flyer. Thanks for your support! 

Consumer and clinician perspectives of the management of end-stage kidney disease - development of a clinical practice guideline for occupational therapy.

University Affiliation: Bond University

Ethics Approval and Reference Number: HREC reference: (LNR) HREC/2023/QGC/98056 and SSA reference: SSA/2023/QGC/98056

Principal Researcher: Professor Susan Brandis PhD, B.Occ.Thy., B.Bus. (Health Admin). FCHSE. CHE

Other Researchers: Alpesh Lal, Master of Occupational Therapy Student

Purpose of the study: Occupational therapy is essential for individuals with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) as it helps them with their daily activities and overall well-being. Bond University has been conducting several research projects in collaboration with the Gold Coast University Hospital Renal Department over the last few years. This has included an internal staff survey, a systematic literature review, leading to developing a draft clinical guideline using a modified nominal group technique and focus groups. We are now seeking broader input on our work to date to ensure that occupational therapists can provide the best care possible. No specific guidelines exist for occupational therapists working with ESKD patients on haemodialysis. This makes it hard for occupational therapists new to the renal caseload to meet individual needs effectively.

Inclusion criteria:
• Adults aged over 18 years
• At least 3 months working experience with consumers with ESKD
• Literate in English
• Valid AHPRA or equivalent registration
• Worked in Australia for approximately 3 months

Exclusion criteria:
• Clinicians who do not hold a valid AHPRA or equivalent registration

Survey link: https://bond.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0PX4uwPFsTVfZLU


Contact details: sbrandis@bond.edu.au and alpesh.lal@student.bond.edu.au

Survey closes: 6 November 2023

What are the characteristics of occupation-centred practice in hand therapy? A Delphi study.

What are the characteristics of occupation-centred practice in hand therapy? A Delphi study.

University Affiliation: Griffith University

Ethics Approval/Reference Number: GU Ref No: 2023/628

Principle Researcher: Ms Jessica Holding

Supervisor(s)
Prof Louise Gustafsson
Prof Matthew Molineux
Dr Dave Parsons

Purpose of study: Occupation-centred practice encourages occupational therapists to ensure occupation sits at the centre of the way they think about and work with clients across all stages of the occupational therapy process. Therapists who practice in an occupation-centred way prioritise the use of occupation-based assessments and interventions; drawing on related knowledge and skills when required.

For occupational therapists working in hand therapy, biomedical and biomechanical knowledge strongly influences the way clinicians work with their clients. Assessment tools and intervention strategies most commonly target impairment at the level of body functions and structures with the assumption that improvement in these domains will translate to improved occupational performance and engagement. However, there is an emerging body of evidence which suggests a top-down occupation-centred approach to hand therapy may contribute to superior outcomes for clients compared to a bottom-up impairment focused approach.

There is a need to add to the body of research and knowledge around occupation-centred practice in hand therapy, particularly in an Australian context. Before this can take place, agreement should be reached regarding the description of characteristics central to this perspective.

Participation Criteria: Eligible participants are those who practice hand therapy in an occupation-centred way. To ensure knowledge and skills are consistent with perceived expertise, inclusion criteria have been established and are as follows:
• Registered occupational therapist or equivalent
• Currently working as a clinician in hand therapy or;
• Currently teaching content related to the practice of hand therapy in a World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) approved education program or;
• Published on the topic of occupation-centred hand therapy;
• Sufficient knowledge of the English language to complete surveys

Survey Link: https://redcap.link/ochteoi

Please note, this is a link to an EOI form that includes a participant information sheet and an option to contact the research team. 

Contact Details
Ms Jessica Holding
School of Health Sciences and Social Work
Griffith University
T: +61 7 3735 4912
E: j.holding@griffith.edu.au

End date for survey: To be confirmed but it is anticipated first round survey will be completed by 29/10/2023

A survey of evidence-based practice and clinical decision making for upper limb rehabilitation in traumatic brain injury among Australian allied health clinicians

A survey of evidence-based practice and clinical decision making for upper limb rehabilitation in traumatic brain injury among Australian allied health clinicians

University Affiliation: Flinders University

Ethics Approval/Reference Number: Ethics project ID 6307

Principle Researcher: Dr Tamina Levy (Physiotherapist)

Supervisor(s): Professor Natasha Lannin

Purpose of study: This study aims to better understand current upper limb rehabilitation provided to adults after traumatic brain injury in Australia, and explore clinical decision making of allied health clinicians, as well as the barriers and facilitators they experience when providing upper limb rehabilitation. Study results will provide information about routine practices across Australia from the perspective of clinicians. These findings may inform future research within traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, including knowledge translation activities (i.e., supporting implementation of evidence-based practice).

Participation Criteria:

• Based in Australia
• Allied health clinician, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, allied health assistants
• Currently provide, or have provided in the past 5 years, rehabilitation to adults after traumatic brain injury

Survey Link: https://qualtrics.flinders.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_cASgEQxFsc5qI8C

Contact Details:
Professor Natasha Lannin, natasha.lannin@monash.edu.au
Jacqui Wheatcroft, j.wheatcroft@cgmc.org.au
Dr Tamina Levy, tamina.levy@flinders.edu.au
Jade Glascott, glas0080@flinders.edu.au

End date for survey: December 2023

Understanding resilience in emerging allied health professionals: What matters? Insights to inform future resilience curricula

Principal Investigator: Desley Simpson, CQUniversity.

Research Team: Dr Maria O’Reilly & Dr Lauren Miller-Lewis (CQUniversity).

“Understanding resilience in emerging allied health professionals: What matters? Insights to inform future resilience curricula”

Purpose of Study: The purpose of this research is to contribute to the current knowledge base on resilience of university students by specifically investigating resilience in allied health students. The role of spirituality, as well as other variables such as previous exposure to adversity, point of time in course and other selected demographic characteristics as predictors of resilience will be examined.

Please note that this research does not view spirituality as a religious concept; rather it is a multidimensional construct involving our connectedness with others, with nature, and how we make meaning out of our lives. It is anticipated that these findings will contribute to foundation knowledge to inform the future design of university-based resilience interventions for allied health professional students (Human Research Ethics Committee approval number 0000023803)

Participation Criteria: Participants must be continuing occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech pathology students of a fully accredited course at an Australian university. Students may be in any year of their four-year undergraduate programme.

Description of Study Procedures: An anonymous online Qualtrics survey has been designed to support the investigation of resilience in allied health professional students and exploring the relationship with spirituality, as well as other variables such as previous exposure to adversity. The proposed study also aims to explore the student voice to better understand vulnerabilities and protective factors that may make a difference in adjustment to adversity during the academic journey. At the conclusion of the survey, participants will be invited to choose to participate in a semi-structured online interview.

More information for those who might like to participate: This link takes students who might wish to participate in this study to the anonymous online survey: https://cqu.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AguX74cq6gCPVs 

A research project website has been developed containing all relevant information, links to the survey, participant information sheets and consent information. That site is: https://studentresiliencematters.com 

Contact details: If you would like any further information, please contact Desley Simpson, PhD student via desley.simpson@cqu.edu.au.

Thank you for your time,

Desley Simpson, Dr Maria O’Reilly and Dr Lauren Miller-Lewis, CQUniversity Australia

A survey of the current outcome measures and treatment practices used by Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists working with people living with ALS/MND

Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a rare neurodegenerative disease which results in progressive loss of muscle strength and function. As no cure exists for ALS/MND, the focus in the management of ALS/MND is on symptom management.

Purpose Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Speech and Language Therapists are core members of the multidisciplinary team caring for people living with ALS/MND. The aim of this study is to determine the international clinical practices of OTs, PTs, and SLTs in ALS/MND.

Data Collection This study will involve a self-administered online survey distributed to OTs, PTs, and SLTs globally ranging from novice to expert opinion working in a variety of settings. This anonymous survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete. Participants can access the survey here https://scsstcd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a5eEUYlQbhHL6Xc. The survey will close on 10th December 2023. This study will provide information on the current clinical practices among OTs, PTs and SLTs in ALS/MND and will form the basis of a novel ALS/MND specific digital rehabilitation platform.

Contact details If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact: Avril Mc Tague (PT) and Lesley Doyle (SLT), PhD students MIRANDA project, Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland at mctaguam@tcd.ie and doylel17@tcd.ie

Employment role transitions for persons with younger onset dementia.

Your name and/or the name of the principle researcher:
Laura Page and Professor Pamela Meredith.

The name of the university with which the study is affiliated:
University of the Sunshine Coast.

Confirmation that your study has received ethics approval:
Ethics approval number: s231819.

To participate, please click on the following link: https://uniofsunshinecoast.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cGi5ZHHK5E0eGbA

Date that the survey closes: 30th April 2024.

Current use of therapeutic groups by Australian private practice occupational therapists servicing community-dwellers with acquired brain injury (ABI): A qualitative interpretive descriptive study

Lead/Chief Investigator:
Prof Elspeth Froude

HDR Student:
Cheryl Kotzur

HREC:
2915 (ethics approval)

Co-Investigators:
Dr Freyr Patterson, Dr Rosamund Harrington

University:
Australian Catholic University

Project Description:
This project will be a qualitative interpretive descriptive study involving interviews with Australian private practice occupational therapists servicing community-dwellers with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Background:
Group-based interventions are recognised as an effective way to support people with acquired brain injury’s rehabilitation journey and life readjustment. Group facilitation is considered a core skill of occupational therapy and affords clinicians the opportunity to target therapy goals within a social, naturalistic context. In Australia, private practice occupational therapists provide personalised therapeutic services to community-dwellers with acquired brain injury (ABI) following their return to community living from inpatient rehabilitation. Community therapeutic groups can extend the benefits of individual therapy and support individual community reintegration yet it has been problematic for Australian private practice occupational therapists servicing ABI clients to receive financial recompense for providing therapeutic groups.

Research Rationale:
This study intends to build upon, expand and enhance current knowledge in the field.

Research Aims:
This qualitative interpretive descriptive study seeks to understand current practice of Australian private practice occupational therapists servicing community-dwellers with ABI and identify perceived enablers and barriers to providing therapeutic groups.
If you are a private practice OT servicing community-dwellers with ABI, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like more details, or wish to register to participate in this study, please use this link to view the participant information letter, consent information, and registration process.

Ageing with Autism: Healthcare Practitioners’ Readiness to Work with Autistic Older Adults

Researchers
Caroline Mills, Giorgia Collins, Bill Wong, Bronwyn Gill, Rosalind Bye, Kristy Coxon

University Affiliation
Western Sydney University

Ethics Approval
Approval Number: H15274

Are you a health professional who works with adults over 50 years? Researchers at Western Sydney University are doing a study on autism and ageing.

We would love to hear about how you support autistic older adults and how ready and supported you feel.

You can complete our survey here:
https://surveyswesternsydney.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GkhpV7h725dVe6

You can also participate in an interview one on one with a researcher and be given a $50 gift card for your time.

This study has been approved by Western Sydney University (approval No: H15274)
Please contact Dr Caroline Mills for more information: caroline.mills@westernsydney.edu.au

Differences in Personality and Character Traits of Occupational Therapy Clinician Researchers and Non-Researchers Using the HEXACO-PI-R-60 and VIA-IS-72 Short Title Personality and Character Traits and Research Engagement

We are a group of supervised 4th-year occupational therapy students from Curtin University undertaking an honours project to explore how personality and character traits influence research engagement. Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has approved this study (HREC number HRE2023-0061). 

Your support would be greatly appreciated if you could share our research study on your social media and webpage platforms for the purpose of connecting to potential participants. A copy of our study flyer is attached for circulation and a short project description for your website.

If you have any questions about this advertisement application, please kindly contact Clara Leong at (19302685@student.curtin.edu.au). Should you have other questions, please contact Dr Kristie Harper at Kristie.Harper@curtin.edu.au

An in-depth understanding of employment role transitions for persons with YOD: Experiences and supports.

Researchers: Ms Laura Page. Dr Maria O'Reilly.

University Affiliation: Central Queensland University.

The purpose of the study is to ascertain the expert opinion of AHPRA-registered occupational therapists who are currently or have had experience working with or researching persons with YOD. This research maybe published in a journal or presented at research forums to share the findings of this study.

Human Research Ethics Committee number: 22968.

The experience of occupational therapy students who fail or are at risk of failing a long block professional practice experience.

Principal researcher:

Wendy Milgate; Chief Investigator; PhD Candidate, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland.

Purpose of study:

The purpose of this research is to establish a contemporary understanding of the student experience of failing or near failing a long block professional practice experience. This research will focus on identifying the student specific perspective of this experience as their unique voice is largely underrepresented in the literature.

For the purposes of this research, long block professional practice experiences are five weeks in duration or longer. A student is determined to have failed or near failed a professional practice experience if they were formally evaluated by their practice educator as such on the halfway or final SPEF-R or SPEF-R2 evaluation tool.

Participation criteria:

Participants must be continuing occupational therapy students of an Australian university who have failed or near failed a professional practice experience as determined by the professional practice evaluation tool “Student Practice Evaluation Form – Revised” (SPEF-R and SPEF-R2) (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2020). Student results for this professional practice unit must be finalised and all appeals or reviews must be finalised prior to consenting to participate.

Decription of Study Procedures:

You can participate in an individual semi-structured interview with the Chief Investigator. If your fail or near fail experience was via the Australian Catholic University (Brisbane Campus) you will be interviewed by one other member of the research team (from University of Queensland).

Interviews are expected to be approximately 60 minutes in duration with the ability to include breaks if, and when required. This interview will be offered at a mutually agreed time and may occur face to face, or online via zoom. Face to face interviews will be audio recorded and online interviews will record audio and video.

The recording will be transferred to the UQ research data management system and deleted from local sources. All interviews will be transcribed verbatim by the Chief Investigator or a professional transcription service.

I want to participate! How do I sign up?

To participate in the individual interview, email wendy.milgate@uq.net.au expressing your interest to participate. Your eligibility to participate will be confirmed and the relevant consent form will then be emailed to you. Return the completed consent form/s to wendy.milgate@uq.net.au. Please retain a copy for your own records. Upon receipt of the completed consent form, an interview time and location will be arranged. 

This study adheres to the Guidelines of the ethical review process of The University of Queensland and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.Ethics ID number: 2022/HE000739