Involvement of paramedical clinicians in research: A must for improving clinical practices

Opinion/feedback: Introduction The use of the results of scientific research by health professionals for the purpose of improving clinical practice is at the heart of the concerns of health system regulators and research funding agencies. It is estimated that only 50% of the measurement tools used in rehabilitation are standardized and less than half of the interventions have documented efficacy. To increase the use of evidence, the Quebec Rehabilitation Research Network (REPAR) partners with professional bodies to provide paramedical clinicians funding opportunities for clinical research projects. The project calls cover themes relevant to clinical practice. The program helps to promote a culture of research, increase the appropriation of knowledge and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of care. The purpose of this presentation is to report the results of the partnership program between REPAR and professional regulatory boards, for example, the one with the Quebec board of physiotherapists (OPPQ), and to present projects that have changed clinical practice. Results Established in 2001, the partnership with OPPQ has funded more than 20 clinical research projects totalling $15,000. The average success rate was 50%. The topics covered and target populations were very diverse. The study objectives aimed mainly to establish measurement properties of clinical tools and the validity of interventions. The program enabled 183 knowledge transfer activities, including 33 scientific articles and 92 abstracts for scientific events. In many cases, these projects resulted in concrete changes in practice. Discussion The REPAR-professional regulatory boards partnership has led to changes in practice and promoted a research culture. It seems important to share this clinical research model and discuss the involvement and role of allied health professionals in research. Professionals in our community, both hospitals and clinics, need to be key players in clinical research, which contributes to enhancing best practices.