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How can healthcare organisations increase doctors’ research engagement? A scoping review

Caitlin Brandenburg (Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia)
Paulina Stehlik (Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia) (School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, Australia)
Christy Noble (Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (Academy for Medical Education, Medical School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Rachel Wenke (Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Southport, Australia)
Kristen Jones (Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Southport, Australia)
Laetitia Hattingh (Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Southport, Australia)
Kelly Dungey (Neurosciences Rehabilitation Unit, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia)
Grace Branjerdporn (Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia)
Ciara Spillane (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Sharmin Kalantari (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Shane George (School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Australia) (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia) (Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Gerben Keijzers (Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia) (School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Australia) (Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia)
Sharon Mickan (Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia)

Journal of Health Organization and Management

ISSN: 1477-7266

Article publication date: 8 April 2024

Issue publication date: 18 April 2024

103

Abstract

Purpose

Clinician engagement in research has positive impacts for healthcare, but is often difficult for healthcare organisations to support in light of limited resources. This scoping review aimed to describe the literature on health service-administered strategies for increasing research engagement by medical practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched from 2000 to 2021 and two independent reviewers screened each record for inclusion. Inclusion criteria were that studies sampled medically qualified clinicians; reported empirical data; investigated effectiveness of an intervention in improving research engagement and addressed interventions implemented by an individual health service/hospital.

Findings

Of the 11,084 unique records, 257 studies were included. Most (78.2%) studies were conducted in the USA, and were targeted at residents (63.0%). Outcomes were measured in a variety of ways, most commonly publication-related outcomes (77.4%), though many studies used more than one outcome measure (70.4%). Pre-post (38.8%) and post-only (28.7%) study designs were the most common, while those using a contemporaneous control group were uncommon (11.5%). The most commonly reported interventions included Resident Research Programs (RRPs), protected time, mentorship and education programs. Many articles did not report key information needed for data extraction (e.g. sample size).

Originality/value

This scoping review demonstrated that, despite a large volume of research, issues like poor reporting, infrequent use of robust study designs and heterogeneous outcome measures limited application. The most compelling available evidence pointed to RRPs, protected time and mentorship as effective interventions. Further high-quality evidence is needed to guide healthcare organisations on increasing medical research engagement.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Eleanor Davis, medical student at Bond University, for assistance with screening, and A/Prof Rhea Liang, Bond University for co-supervision and comments on a draft of this manuscript.

Citation

Brandenburg, C., Stehlik, P., Noble, C., Wenke, R., Jones, K., Hattingh, L., Dungey, K., Branjerdporn, G., Spillane, C., Kalantari, S., George, S., Keijzers, G. and Mickan, S. (2024), "How can healthcare organisations increase doctors’ research engagement? A scoping review", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 38 No. 2, pp. 227-247. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-09-2023-0270

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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