How professional development can be supported for health and care research methodologists: results of the PROfesSionnal develoPmEnt for Research methodologists (PROSPER) e-Delphi and consensus study

Iflaifel, Mais; Williamson, Paula R; Mitchell, Eleanor J

Abstract

Objective: Research methodologists play a pivotal role in health and care research, yet they face many challenges relating to their professional development. The PROfessional development for Research methodologists (PROSPER) study was designed to understand and prioritise the professional development and capacity-building needs of research methodologists in the United Kingdom.

Design, setting and participants: Three-round electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) survey, with input from stakeholders in the development of the candidate list of professional development aspects followed by a national consensus meeting of health and care research methodologists in the UK.

Main outcome measures: Rated importance of each professional development aspects on a nine-point scale.

Results:
207 participants gave their consent to participate in the e-Delphi survey. 189 (91%) completed round one, and 75% completed all three rounds. In round one, 35 professional development aspects were rated by priority, with 21 additional aspects suggested by participants and included in subsequent rounds. Rounds 2 and 3 involved rating 56 aspects: 22 achieved 'consensus in,' 20 were 'consensus out,' and 14 had 'no consensus.' The top 'consensus in' aspects were supportive line managers, clear career pathways and promotion criteria, and time for training. A consensus meeting with 18 participants re-rated the 14 'no consensus' aspects, adding three more to the final list. The final list includes 25 priority areas for research methodologists’ professional development.

Conclusions: This study has established the priorities from a professional development perspective for research methodologists. These priorities particularly focus on the importance of support from others, training and development, the value and recognition of the role, employer/contractual agreements, and methodological research funding. The list of priorities could help individuals, managers, employers and research funders to improve professional development opportunities and could form the start of the development of a ‘methodologists’ charter’.

Citation

Iflaifel, M., Williamson, P. R., & Mitchell, E. J. (2024). How professional development can be supported for health and care research methodologists: results of the PROfesSionnal develoPmEnt for Research methodologists (PROSPER) e-Delphi and consensus study. BMJ Open, 14(10), Article e085656. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085656

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 29, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 16, 2024
• Publication Date: Oct 16, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 2, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 16, 2024
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-6055
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: e085656
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085656
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/39164108
• Publisher URL: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e085656