Building research experience: Impact of a novice researcher development program for rural health workers

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the Rural Research Capacity Building Program on self‐reported research experience of rural health workers. DESIGN: A repeat cross‐sectional study design was used to assess self‐reported research experience at the commencement and completion of a novice researcher development program. SETTING: Candidates in the Rural Research Capacity Building Program are health workers employed in the rural NSW public health service who have not completed research higher degrees. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and thirty candidates of the Rural Research Capacity Building Program from the 2006 to 2013 cohorts were participated. INTERVENTIONS: The Rural Research Capacity Building Program is an experiential learning program in which candidates gain research experience by undertaking a new, self‐selected, local health service endorsed research project over a 2‐year period, supported by 10 days face‐to‐face teaching, weekly teleconferencing and mentoring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in self‐assessed research experience using a validated 10‐item measurement tool known as the Research Spider which measures 10 domains of research experience. RESULTS: Reported research experience demonstrated statistically significant increases across all 10 domains of research experience. The largest change was ‘writing and presenting a research report’ and ‘writing a research protocol’. CONCLUSIONS: Significant increases in Research Spider results across all 10 domains demonstrated that completing the Rural Research Capacity Building Program significantly improves self‐assessed research experience. Rural health workers who are experienced and confident to undertake research are more capable of studying health problems and finding solutions unique to the rural setting.