title: Comparison of research experience and support needs of rural versus regional allied health professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the research experience or support needs of allied health professionals in rural versus regional cities to identify if they were the same or different.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study using a cross sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried within Queensland Health's northern six health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Queensland health staff classified as Health Practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  This survey was conducted as part of a research capacity building initiative within Queensland Health to increase AHPs' participation in research in regional cities and rural areas of Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questions in the survey identified demographics, research experience, need for research support, research knowledge and beliefs about research. Data were compared using Chi-square and t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total response rate was 54.5% with 18% of the HPs located in rural communities of less than 5000 people and the rest from the three major cities in northern Queensland. Rural HPs have less research experience in most research activities than regional city HPs and need more research support. Rural HPs have more qualitative research experience than regional city HPs and research is perceived positively by both. Barriers to conducting research were similar across both groups and included insufficient time, lack of staff and no statistical support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rural HPs are younger and have less research experience than their counterparts working in regional cities. Therefore, building rural HP research capacity initiatives may require more access to facilitators such as the Research Fellows.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.|Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Tilley
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pain
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.|Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.|Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pighills
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.|Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Desley
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D011793:Queensland; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: allied health; research capacity building; rural research