The Research Forum For Allied Health Professionals

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The Research Forum For Allied Health
Professionals

• Professor Wesley Vernon

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Purpose Of The Research Forum For Allied Health
Professions

• Sharing and dissemination of ideas
• Expert comment
• Disseminate and share relevant papers, strategies
  and information
• Six areas for research development
• Peer reviewers for funding bodies
• Base AHP work on best evidence

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Early Vision of the Forum

• The vision of the RFAHP is to develop a strong
  inter-professional research culture within each
  member profession that is responsive to the needs
  of consumers, carers and providers of health and
  social care services. The intention is to
  support collaborative inter-agency partnerships
  to promote high quality research, which fulfils
  the requirements of national policies

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Six Areas for Development

• Strategic approach to research problems
• AHP inclusion in R and R policy
• Sustainable research communities
• Enhance research capability
• Develop research programmes
• Evaluative culture
• Peer reviewers for R and D

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Ultra Long Term Vision

• All AHP practice will be knowledge and evidence
  based by the year 2100, within a respected
  culture of high quality research.

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Functioning of the RFAHP

• Meetings 4x/year
• Terms of reference AHPF accountable, vision and
  aims
• Membership chair convener, officers, members
• Communication internal/external/bulletin
• Ultra long term vision focused

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Achievements

• Multiple outputs
• External group representation (e.g. HTA, ACTS,
  SIG for Education and research)
• Awareness raising
• Data collection/collation

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How Well Has the RFAHP Worked?

• High critical mass
• Single contact point
• Being listened to in some areas
• Gathering awareness of AHP research
• Inter-professional rivalries ended within RFAHP

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Limitations of the RFAHP

• Reliance on voluntarism
• Communication could be improved further
• AHPF relationship could be clearer
• Real power currently limited

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The Future?

• The End