Research Group

Communication

• An initial baseline survey targeted at radiographers working in higher education was carried out in the autumn of 2004. A second survey has been conducted and the comparative will be available soon.
• Information is and has been supplied to Radiography, Synergy News and posted on the website.
• The research group will be contacting all regional committees for representatives who can act as an important communication link.

Influencing the wider research agenda

A number of radiographers sit on national committees, which are involved with research and development policy. Examples include:

• Forum Representatives Group of the NHS R&D Forum;
• David Manning - DH National Research Workforce Capacity Programme and the Nursing and AHPs Award Scheme (Member, Policy Committee);
• Donna Routsis and Heidi Probst - SCoR representatives on the Academic Clinical Oncology and Radiobiology Research Network (ACORRN);
• Maryann Hardy - (nominated by SCoR) sits as the AHP representative on the Health Technology Panel.
• Rachel Harris - Research Forum for Allied Health Professions.
• Pauline Reeves - Research Forum for Allied Health Professions.

Responding to national policy consultation documents

The Research Group has responded to numerous national policy consultation documents, these include:

• QAA ‘common core’ for academic and practitioner standards in health care subjects/professions;
• Call for evidence from the HEFCE Research Support Libraries Group;
• Consultation text of the Draft Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe;
• Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine - Biomedical Research;
• Response to the consultation on the Joint Funding Bodies Review of Research Assessment;
• Response to the consultation on the Research Strategy Revision for Scotland and ‘A Health and Social Care Research and Development Strategic Framework for Wales’;
• Response to the Consultation on the Joint Funding Bodies Review of Research Assessment
• Best Research for Best Health: A New National Health Research Strategy.
• Implementing the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group: Consultation Document (published by the Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC) January 2006)

Ensuring research happens

The Research Group is promoting the establishment of communities of research practice. This will be the first step in identifying areas of expertise, leading to uniting radiographers with similar research interests.

Additionally, the SCoR has representatives on the ACORRN network and the Research Group is formalising reciprocal links with other SCoR groups, e.g. Radiotherapy Advisory Group, Information Technology and Management, the Consultant Radiographers and the Ultrasound Clinical Effectiveness Group.

Evidence based culture

• The SCoR has lobbied the DH (England) and other UK health departments for improvements to infrastructure investment that support effective clinical practice and the HPC for recognition of the clinico-researcher career pathway.
• The College, through its validation processes, ensures that all education programmes are to be based on the best possible evidence.
• A review of the SCoR electronic CPD manager will ensure that research to underpin the clinical governance agenda is given a high priority: a radical revision of  CPD Now is ongoing in the context of the vision of the Health Professions Council. This was launched in the summer of 2005
• One per cent of the profession should be research active by 2006 (this target is similar to that proposed by other AHP’s).

Implementation

The recently published Research Strategy builds upon the Education and Professional Professional Development Strategy for the radiography workforce and embeds the opportunities for career options both within clinical/academic-research environments.

Research funding opportunities are advertised through both Synergy and the SCoR website.

Research Group Targets for 2007-2008

• Interpret and publish data from the previous year's capacity questionnaire.
• Investigate how to appropriately and accurately collect research activity information within the profession.
• Support radiographic research networks and focus groups.
• Contribute to and support research publications across the organisation, to include: Radiography, Synergy and relevant articles / information on the Research Group WebPages.
• Identity key research areas across the profession for the next five years, as priorities for internal and external research funding.
• Administer all the SCoR research awards, totalling £25,000. Projects which highlight the key research areas across the profession (as noted on the WebPages), will receive priority for funding.
• Provide members with current research support and advice via the Research Group WebPages and by answering members enquiries.
• Explore how to forge links with Regional Committees, thereby ensuring good research communication. The Research Group aims to have a contact person on each regional committee who will act as a liaison between the group and regions.
• Liaise and work with industrial partners to explore opportunities for a Funded Research Chair.
• Ensure representation of the profession on relevant research and AHP panels (i.e. RFAHP, HTA, ACORRN, RAE, etc.) thereby contributing to national agendas.
• Explore the possibility of encouraging the development a diagnostic/radiology inter-professional network, similar to the ACORRN initiative for radiotherapy.

Future developments

The group will promote the development of research communities that support both local, national and international radiography research.

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