title: Physiotherapy departments in Australian tertiary hospitals regularly participate in and disseminate research results despite a lack of allocated staff: a prospective cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the level of research activity in physiotherapy departments of Australian tertiary hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiotherapy managers from 37 principal referral hospitals and specialist women's and children's hospitals as identified from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011).
  
  
  METHODS
  A purpose-designed predominantly open-response questionnaire investigating site demographics, research activity and research support was developed, piloted and administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven surveys were completed (54% response rate). Median [IQR] respondent equivalent full-time staffing was 23.8 (19-39). Respondents represented a median [IQR] 6.5 (3-20) publication output in the past 2 years. Twelve respondents (32%) reported that staff had completed a doctorate in the past 5 years and 49% of respondents reported no staff had completed higher degrees. A total of 71 grants had been received and 73% of respondents indicated they had no allocated staffing for research activity. The most common indicators of research culture were organization-led research dissemination events and research training (i.e. manager attending research events and celebrating research achievements).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to report on research activity in hospital-based Australian physiotherapy departments. Few sites allocate staff to conduct or support research. Despite this, physiotherapy departments regularly publish and present research results. Future studies could investigate how hospital-based physiotherapy departments can optimize research culture and output.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash Health , Clayton, Victoria , Australia .
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hough
authors.forename: Yi Tian
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hough
authors.forename: Alesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Southby
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Snowdon
authors.forename: Tamica
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sturgess
authors.forename: Terry P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Health policy; health service delivery; physiotherapy; research