Writing a manuscript for publication: An action research study with allied health practitioners
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11157/fohpe.v21i2.397Keywords:
allied health personnel, publishing, writing, manuscripts, research supportAbstract
Introduction: Writing a manuscript for publication is a challenge for those health practitioners whose primary role is to provide clinical services. The aim of this study was to increase the capacity of allied health practitioners who are employed in a clinical setting to submit manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Methods: An action research study design was used to develop a “Writing for Publication” program for nine allied health practitioners who had not previously published a manuscript as lead author. Between May and November 2018, at a regional public hospital service, three 90-minute writing workshops were offered, which included manuscript plan and preparation guide, academic writing instruction, peer review and mentoring by experienced researchers. Data were collected using participant pre- and post-program surveys, post-workshop focus groups and facilitator reflections.
Results: All participants reported that their writing skills had improved. Enablers to completing a manuscript for publication included structured preparation, mentoring, training in academic writing skills, protected writing time and external accountability. Challenges included not knowing where or how to start, competing priorities and distractions within and outside of work hours, inadequate academic writing skills and loss of momentum. Two participants submitted their manuscripts for publication by the end of the study and a further manuscript was submitted by the time of writing.
Conclusions: Strategies to ensure publication of allied health practitioner research findings need to be integrated into project planning and monitoring processes embedded within a well-supported health service-wide research culture.
References
Borkowski, D., McKinstry, C., Cotchett, M., Williams, C., & Haines, T. (2016). Research culture in allied health: A systematic review. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 22(4), 294–303. https://doi.org/10.1071/PY15122
Bullion, J., & Brower, S. (2017). Enhancing the research and publication efforts of health sciences librarians via an academic writing retreat. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 105(4), 394–399. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2017.320
Gagliardi, A. R., Webster, F., Perrier, L., Bell, M., & Straus, S. (2014). Exploring mentorship as a strategy to build capacity for knowledge translation research and practice: A scoping systematic review. Implementation Science, 9(1), 122. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-014-0122-z
Geithner, C., & Pollastro, A. (2015). Constructing engaged learning in scientific writing: Implementation and assessment of a blended pedagogical approach. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 7(2), 292–307. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-04-2014-0053
Harvey, D., Plummer, D., Pighills, A., & Pain, T. (2013). Practitioner research capacity: A survey of social workers in northern Queensland. Australian Social Work, 66(4), 540–554. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2012.754916
Hulcombe, J., Sturgess, J., Souvlis, T., & Fitzgerald, C. (2014). An approach to building research capacity for health practitioners in a public health environment: An organisational perspective. Australian Health Review, 38(3), 252–258. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH13066
Jackson, D. (2008). Mentored residential writing retreats: A leadership strategy to develop skills and generic outcomes in writing for publication. Nurse Education Today, 29(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2008.05.018
Kennedy, A. (2017). Journal aspirations: Improving scientific writing and publication through a writing mentorship program. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, 10(2), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v10i2.369
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1988). The action research planner (3rd ed.). Deakin University Press.
Kulage, K. M., & Larson, E. L. (2016). Implementation and outcomes of a faculty-based, peer review manuscript writing workshop. Journal of Professional Nursing, 32(4), 262–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2016.01.008
Lazzarini, P. A., Geraghty, J., Kinnear, E. M., Butterworth, M., & Ward, D. (2013). Research capacity and culture in podiatry: Early observations within Queensland Health. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 6, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-6-1
Matus, J., Wenke, R., Hughes, I., & Mickan, S. (2019). Evaluation of the research capacity and culture of alllied health practitioners in a large public health service. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 12, 83–96. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S178696
McNiff, J., & Whitehead, J. (2011). All you need to know about action research (2nd ed.). Sage.
Mickan, S., Wenke, R., Weir, K., Bialocerkowski, A., & Noble, C. (2017). Strategies for research engagement of clinicians in allied health (STRETCH): A mixed methods research protocol. BMJ Open, 7(9), e014876. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014876
Pighills, A., Plummer, D., Harvey, D., & Pain, T. (2013). Positioning occupational therapy as a discipline on the research continuum: Results of a cross-sectional survey of research experience. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 60(4), 241–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12057
Sandelowski, M. (2000). Whatever happended to qualitative description. Research in Nursing and Health, 23(4), 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-G
Singh, V., & Mayer, P. (2014). Scientific writing: Strategies and tools for students and advisors. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 42(5), 405–413. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.20815
Walshe, C. (2018). Clear, simple, precise, meaningful: A quick guide to writing for publication. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 24(4), 391–392. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_175_18
Wenke, R., Mickan, S., & Bisset, L. (2017). A cross sectional observational study of research activity of allied health teams: Is there a link with self-reported success, motivators and barriers to undertaking research? BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), Article 114. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-1996-7
Wenke, R., Tynan, A., Scott, A., & Mickan, S. (2018). Effects and mechanisms of an allied health research position in a Queensland regional and rural health service: A descriptive case study. Australian Health Review, 42(6), 667–675. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH17086
Wenke, R., Ward, E., Hickman, I., Hulcombe, J., Phillips, R., & Mickan, S. (2017). Allied health research positions: A qualitative evaluation of their impact. Health Research Policy and Systems, 15(1), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-016-0166-4
Wenke, R., Weir, K., Noble, C., Mahoney, J., & Mickan, S. (2018). Not enough time for research? Use of supported funding to promote allied health research activity. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 11, 269–277. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S157034
Yancey, N. R. (2016). The challenge of writing for publication: Implications for teaching-learning nursing. Nursing Science Quarterly, 29(4), 277–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318416662931
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
On acceptance for publication in FoHPE the copyright of the manuscript is signed over to ANZAHPE, the publisher of FoHPE.
