Design and evaluation of a post-graduate education in rehabilitation research methods for medical and allied health professionals

Objective: Generic courses in research methods do not adequately prepare the postgraduate clinician for the undertaking of a clinical research project. This paper outlines the design, delivery and evaluation of a research methods topic specifically aimed at postgraduate health professionals. The purpose of the new research methods topic was to create an integrated learning experience for the students in their clinical setting, and to carry their new skill set over in to the follow-on topics of project design and project implementation. Method: A topic was developed using adult learning principles and based on the needs of postgraduate clinicians to enhance the knowledge of health professionals in the field of rehabilitation research methods, as part of a Masters in Clinical Rehabilitation qualification. Fifty seven students from both Australian and International backgrounds enrolled in the topic over 3 separate semesters. The topic was delivered as a 3 day intensive to 14 students, as a traditional lecture based topic over a full semester to 10 students, and as an online topic over a full semester to 33 students. Students were asked to evaluate the course via a short feedback form at the end of the topic. Result: Twenty students completed the feedback form. There was a positive feedback response of 98% for the 3-day intensive students and 96% for the full semester students. To date 8 students have completed the full Masters course, 6 of whom have developed their clinical research project to papers for submission to peer reviewed journals. The first of these papers has been published. Conclusion: Health professionals benefit from a research method topic based on adult learning principles that is grounded in their own clinical practice.