title: Past, present and future of respiratory research: A survey of Canadian health care professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Canadian Respiratory Health Professionals (CRHP) is the multidisciplinary health care professional group of the Canadian Lung Association. Although the CRHP has a growing number of highly qualified researchers, the landscape of their research in Canada has not been described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the level of respiratory research engagement; identify barriers and facilitators to research engagement; describe the experience and interest in developing research skills; and identify priority areas of future respiratory research among health care professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey of CRHP members was used to collect demographic information; barriers and facilitators to conducting research; future directions in respiratory research; and research funding and mentorship. Experience with and interest in 'upskilling' research skills were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 119 surveys were completed (22% response rate), of which 69 (58%) respondents were engaged in respiratory research. Reasons for not being involved in respiratory research were lack of mentorship, support and funding. The top research areas were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (74%) and asthma (41%). The top facilitators for research engagement were amount of funding (29%) and mentorship (28%). Respondents in research positions rated their experience in research skills as high; those in nonresearch positions as low. However, both groups expressed interest in improving their research skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Areas of development, such as research skills, greater funding opportunities and mentorship to increase the research capacity of health care professionals in respiratory health were identified. Health professional researchers have an important role in the national respiratory research strategy to increase interdisciplinary engagement and build collaborative teams.
authors.forename: Mika Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nonoyama
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lobchuk
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McEvoy
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires