From collaborating clinician to clinical researcher
Jackie Parsonage shares her thoughts on why as a clinician she became involved in research , and how this first step inspired her to pursue a research pathway
When I chose to become an occupational therapist , I never imagined becoming a researcher and undertaking a PhD . As a clinician , I loved working in mental health , but became frustrated by the limited empirical evidence base to justify my clinical practice . The need for research was evident , but the time , skills and experience necessary to undertake that research was not .
That view changed as a result of an opportunity to participate in a research collaboration between service users , clinicians and academics , organised by Professor Wendy Bryant as an outcome of her PhD .
Research collaborations are considered a credible way to develop the profession ’ s research capacity and are in line with the RCOT research and development strategy 2019 to 2024 .
The foundational experience of engaging in collaborative research launched me on a research pathway that involved undertaking an National Institute for Health Research ( NIHR ) Masters in clinical research , a PhD and commencing an occupational therapy research fellowship role .
I am enormously grateful to the Elizabeth Casson Trust for funding both the PhD and the research fellowship as part of the trust ’ s endeavour to promote and develop the occupational therapy evidence base , leadership capacity and clinical practice . I began my PhD in October 2017 , at Oxford Brookes University . The pioneer Elizabeth Casson established and moved the first UK-based occupational therapy school to Dorset House in Oxford , which later merged with Oxford Brookes University in 1993 .
The aptness of an Elizabeth Casson Trust-funded PhD based at Oxford Brookes University , with its history and connection to Elizabeth Casson , was not lost on me as I came to understand the trust ’ s wider ambition to develop occupational therapy research excellence .
I was based in an allied health research group – MOReS – co-ordinated by Professor Helen Dawes , who is a physiotherapist . As my main supervisor , I came to appreciate Helen ’ s skill and understanding of intervention development research and learn how to navigate the quagmire of research-related politics and funding .
My second supervisor was the highly respected occupational therapist Professor Mona Eklund , based at Lund University , the Swedish equivalent of Oxford . Working with Mona provided an opportunity to meet researchers in Sweden and Europe , as well as learn something about the Swedish culture .
The collaboration led to one publication and the intention to sustain the relationship beyond PhD . The research group provided an incubator-like experience in which multiple PhD students , at various stages , supported and encouraged each other . During the PhD , the desire to conduct clinically relevant research was paramount , choosing to develop an occupational therapy theory-informed intervention for young people with emerging mental health issues .
Using best practice guidance on developing an intervention , I designed and undertook a five-stage project consisting of both quantitative and qualitative research . The studies included : a systematic
© Varijanta via Getty Images scoping review of the literature ; a time-use survey ;
52 OTnews August 2021