The Step-in-Time feasibility study :
Reflections on a practice-based massage therapy trial of a smartphone app
Larisa Barnes 1 , Roger Engel 2 , Joanne Bradbury 2 and Sandra Grace 2 | 1 Faculty of Medicine and Health , The University Centre for Rural Health , The University of Sydney Larisa . barnes @ sydney . edu . au , 2 Faculty of Health , Southern Cross University
Abstract
This paper provides researcher reflections on the Step-in-Time Study , which was conducted by a partnership of university researchers with massage practitioners and their clients . Practice-based research can be used to address clinical research questions and could contribute towards a body of evidence of effectiveness of natural medicine treatments . It is important to use standardised outcome measures in research to enable comparison or combining of multiple studies . Feasibility trials are conducted to test whether research methods will work to plan large trials . This feasibility study set out to investigate whether a smartphone app could be used as a standardised outcome measure to investigate the benefits of massage therapy on walking speed in clients with osteoarthritis . Participating in this study exposed researchers , practitioners , and clients to the value of practicebased research . A practice-based research framework provides a mechanism to generate a body of objective evidence on the effectiveness of natural therapies .
Introduction
There is a stated need for more practicebased research that challenges the distinction between research ( discovery ) and practice ( application ).( 1 ) This paper reflects upon an example of practicebased research that was designed to investigate the effect of massage therapy on clients with osteoarthritis . It provides researcher reflections on the Step in Time Study , which was conducted by a partnership of university researchers with massage practitioners and their clients .
Practice-based research
Practice-based research sets out to improve practice through research . It includes both research about practice and research which incorporates practice in its methodology and / or outcomes . ( 2 ) Practice itself is a generator of critical research questions that have relevance to practitioners .( 3 ) Investigating such questions is likely to have outcomes that are readily translated in practice . ( 4 ) A number of models of practicebased research have emerged , including practice-as-research , practice-led research and practice-through-research . ( 5 ) In addition , practice-based research networks ( PBRNs ) that draw together networks of practitioners who are interested in learning about and conducting research in their practices ,( 6 ) have proliferated in recent years . A further example of practice-based research is the application of single system research designs ( also called single-subject research designs , single case experimental designs ( SCEDS ),
68 | vol29 | no2 | JATMS