Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Work Readiness Scale For Allied Health Graduates, Vidya Lawton, Emre Ilhan, Verity Pacey, Taryn M. Jones, Arlene Walker, Catherine M. Dean

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The transition for allied health graduates from university to the workforce has been perceived to be difficult and overwhelming, leading to early attrition within healthcare professions. Work readiness is a crucial aspect of successful transition to the workforce, however, the elements of work readiness are not clearly defined. The purpose of this project was to refine the measurement of work-readiness in allied health graduates. Method: A 62-item Work Readiness Scale for Allied Health Professionals (WRS-AH), based on a work readiness scale for a generic population of graduates, was validated and refined using an exploratory factor analysis. Results …

A Realist Informed Study On Speaking Up In Healthcare – Supervisors’ Perceptions Of New Graduates Speaking Up, Philippa M. Friary, Suzanne C. Purdy, Lindy Mcallister, Mark Barrow, Rachelle Martin

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: For healthcare organizations to adapt and improve, staff need to speak up for patient safety and quality improvement. Speaking up has been explored in nursing and medicine with little known about speaking up in allied health. This study is part of a larger project investigating speaking up in allied health new graduates. This paper is taking a realist position to look at the perspectives of supervisors of allied health new graduates and further develop the Initial Program Theory (IPT) developed from the new graduate study. Method: Data was collected from two focus groups. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to …

Speaking Up In Healthcare: An Exploration Of The Allied Health New Graduate Workforce, Philippa M. Friary, Suzanne C. Purdy Prof, Lindy Mcallister, Mark Barrow Assoc Prof, Rachelle Martin

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: All healthcare workers are responsible for patient safety and quality improvement and need to “speak up” to communicate issues. As healthcare systems strain under the impact of reduced staffing and workloads increase, allied health new graduates are feeling under pressure and unsupported. Understanding their experiences of speaking up as they transition into the workforce will identify what support they require to fulfil their patient safety and quality improvement responsibilities. Method: An exploratory study was conducted to investigate how new graduates in allied health speak up. Informed by a realist theoretical position, this study was interested in what contexts and …

Development Of A Digital Health Capability Framework For Allied Health Practitioners: An Australian First, Nikki Littlewood, Sharon Downie, Abbey Sawyer, Kath Feely, Dhruv Govil, Brit Gordon

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: The value of digital health technologies and their contribution to high-quality and safe clinical care and enhanced health patient experience and outcomes is well established. Digital health technologies are increasingly being used by Victorian allied health professionals (AHPs) in routine service delivery, the uptake of which has been significantly accelerated by the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Objectives: This case study outlines the development of a capability framework to support Victorian AHPs, health services, other employers, and university training partners to measure and expand digital health capability at individual practitioner and workforce levels. Methods: A mixed-methods approach to …

Clinical Supervision In Singapore: Allied Health Professional Perspectives From A Two-Round Delphi Study, Brena Lim, Kate Cook, Dean Sutherland, Alexandra J. Weathersby, Gina D. Tillard

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study investigated Allied Health Practitioners’ (AHPs) perspectives on and consensus of clinical supervision in an acute tertiary hospital in Singapore. Specifically, AHPs’ views on the benefits of and barriers surrounding engaging in clinical supervision, as well as strategies for enhancing clinical supervision experience. Method: A Delphi approach utilizing a two-round process via online questionnaires was employed. A total of 77 AHPs responded to the first round of the Delphi questionnaire and 55 AHPs completed the second round (71% retention rate). Open-ended responses from the first round underwent thematic analysis and resulted in sixty statements (five themes) describing engagement …

‘Missing The Target’ – A Critical Examination Of Policy Frameworks For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Inclusion Into The Allied Health Professions, Andrea Simpson, Tim Pitman

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin

Objective

This paper focuses on critically examining the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in policy frameworks by regulatory health peak bodies against the backdrop of the Government’s response to the Closing the Gap (2020) report.

Method

Websites of ten allied health professional bodies were searched and analysed as policy as text.

Results

Of the ten professions examined, the search strategy identified 9 professions were signatories or co-signatories on Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) and three professions made mention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander equity strategies to enter the profession as part of accreditation standards.

Conclusions

Professional bodies …

Feeding Difficulties In Children: A Guide For Allied Health Professionals An Evaluation Report, Carmel M. Blayden, Kate Holland, Sonia Hughes, Jennifer Nicol

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: An evaluation of Feeding Difficulties in Children: A Guide for Allied Health Professionals (2016) was undertaken to determine how the publication has been utilised amongst allied health professionals across NSW. This evaluation aimed to identify the usefulness of the Guide in supporting the assessment and management of children with feeding difficulties. Results will inform future education and support strategies. Method: The evaluation targeted allied health professionals employed by NSW Health. An online questionnaire formed the primary method of data collection. Four semi-structured focus groups also occurred to provide complementary qualitative information. Results: Clinicians from a range of professions and …

Clinical Supervision Frameworks For Allied Health Professionals: A Systematic And Critical Review, Marcus Gardner, Carol Mckinstry, Byron Perrin

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Clinical supervision is an important element of professional support for allied health professionals and contributes to the provision of safe, high quality patient care and health professional wellbeing. Structured clinical supervision frameworks have been recommended to improve access and effectiveness of clinical supervision for allied health professionals by providing practical guidance and increased consistency. However, there is limited evidence relating to the availability and quality of clinical supervision frameworks for allied health. Method: A systematic and critical review was conducted to identify and appraise clinical supervision frameworks for allied health. Included were peer-reviewed studies and grey literature documents, available …

The Allied Health Work Readiness Study: Identifying Personal Characteristics Signalling Work Readiness In Allied Health Students, Maxine O'Brien, Kelli Troy, Jayne Kirkpatrick

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Clinical placements associated with university degrees for the allied health professions aim to support the preparation of students for post graduate employment through the practical application of theoretical constructs. However, employers recognise that a range of generic skills and attributes outside of technical and academic achievement impact of work readiness. Allied health clinical educators within Darling Downs Health (DDH) sought to identify these generic characteristics, and their relative importance, with a view to further supporting the work readiness of students completing placements in the district. Method: The study utilised the knowledge and experience of allied health clinical educators, experienced …

Setting Research Priorities Within Allied Health: What Do Clinicians Think?, Annette Davis, Den-Ching Angel Lee, Lisa-Anabell Wenzel, Terry Haines

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Research activity among allied health clinicians working in publicly funded health care organisations is growing, yet little attention has been paid to how these activities are prioritised. Without a specific framework to guide research direction, it is likely that research will be conducted in areas that are prioritised by individual clinicians. However, it is presently unknown what areas are prioritised by clinicians and the reasoning behind their prioritisation. Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify what clinicians identify to be the highest priority research across personal, department, and health service levels, and the reasons why. It also …

Building Allied Health Research Capacity At A Regional Australian Hospital: A Follow-Up Study., Tilley Pain, Michelle Petersen, Malindu Fernando

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose

This study determined if research experience increased among allied health professionals (AHPs) at a regional tertiary hospital following a research capacity building initiative.

Methods

A cross sectional electronic survey was used to collect data from allied health professionals on their research experience, research support needs, enablers and barriers to research and their perceptions regarding benefits of research. A baseline survey was conducted in 2011 which was compared to a follow up survey in 2015. Comparison of variables between the two surveys used Chi squared tests.

Results

The response rate for the 2011 survey was 43% (n=248) while the 2015 …

An Initiative To Build Research Capacity Within A Physiotherapy Department: Hits And Misses Over A 20-Year Period, Kathy Stiller, Naomi Haensel

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Building research capacity within a busy clinical allied health department is important but can be limited by time, resources and expertise. In 1995, a role was created in our Physiotherapy Department whereby an individual with an interest and expertise in clinical research was identified and a proportion of their workload (12 hours/week) designated to fulfil a research co-ordination role. The aim of this role was to foster research and build research capacity within the Physiotherapy Department. This paper reports the achievements associated with this initiative to highlight its successes, difficulties and failures. Method: A retrospective descriptive review of research …

Clinical Supervision In Allied Health In Australia: A Model Of Allied Health Clinical Supervision Based On Practitioner Experience, Sue Fitzpatrick, Megan Smith, Clare Wilding

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this manuscript is to identify key elements of allied health clinical supervision based on allied health practitioner’s experiences. Method: This study was conducted with qualitative methodology, including content analysis, and draws on hermeneutic interpretation of texts. Data were collected through an online survey in an Australian health service and subsequent focus groups. Results: Findings revealed four key dimensions including accessibility of regular clinical supervision, relationships between the supervisor and supervisee, clarity about the purpose, and roles and a focus on meeting the supervisee’s needs; these dimensions were central to the allied health practitioner’s …

Factors Identified By Physiotherapists That Influence The Retention Of Regional Clinicians: A Qualitative Investigation, Elli Miles, Robyn Adams, Sophie Anaf, Lorraine Sheppard

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Objective: To identify factors influencing the retention of physiotherapists in one regional setting. Design: A qualitative framework using semi-structured interviews was used to collect data. Data were evaluated using thematic analysis. Setting: A regional city located on the coastline of Queensland, Australia, more than six hours drive from the capital city, Brisbane. Participants: Practicing physiotherapists employed by Queensland Health, the main public health employer. Main Outcome Measures: Retention themes identified from the interview transcripts. Results: The advantages of remaining employed in the regional city were centred on personal issues. Forty-four responses described personal advantages while 33 described professional advantages. The …

The Nature Of Career Advice Provided To Undergraduate Allied Health Sciences Students At The University Of South Australia, Marie Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of career advice, especially advice concerning postgraduate research training degrees, provided to and by students in five health professional bachelor’s degree programs at the University of South Australia. In addition, differences between professional disciplines in terms of career advice and knowledge of current research activities of staff and research degree students were explored. Method: A cross-sectional survey of final year students in five disciplines within the School of Health Sciences was used in this study. Information was sought on demographics, the nature of career advice received, advice the respondent …

Cahe Outcomes Calculator: An Allied Health Initiative To Improve Practice, Karen Grimmer, Andrea Bialocerkowski, Steven Milanese, Saravana Kumar, Barrie Mulley, Yamini Deenadayalan, Patricia Neumann, Lauren Dryden, Trisha Maddison, Susan Hiller

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This paper reports on the process of developing a low-cost initiative for therapists to assist in the collection and evaluation of information on outcome of care, using a selection of standard health outcome measures. An episode of care approach has been taken, in which repeated measures of outcome can be collected whenever the patient presents for treatment for a specific condition. The MS Access-based software is available for download free of charge on the website of the Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia (CAHE Outcomes Calculator). The calculator currently incorporates common measures of outcome for musculoskeletal problems, …

Development Of A Generic Critical Appraisal Tool By Consensus: Presentation Of First Round Delphi Survey Results, Jeannie Burnett, Karen Grimmer, Saravana Kumar

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The growing importance of evidence based practice is necessitating academics and clinicians to be able to make judgments about the quality of the body of research evidence pertaining to clinical questions. There are numerous critical appraisal tools to assist this process. These are mostly designed for specific research designs, and tend not to reflect the particular concerns of allied health professionals, such as accuracy of diagnosis, adequate description of intervention, and sensitivity and utility of outcome measures. This paper reports the findings of a study which sought expert opinion on the essential criteria for critical appraisal, and whether a generic …