Courses Outlines

BAHT

Education ESC

Research & Development

April Cottage
The Knoll
Alderton
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 3BS

Registered No. 3191955
Charity No. 1057831
Registered Address:
66, Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3LH

Education The ESC - Course Outlines
Welcome to the Webpage of the RDSC
The RDSC aims to develop research skills and an active and supportive research community within BAHT. Research and Development Officer

(RDO) was appointed IN September 2001 and provides full time support to any member of the Association.

RDSC Information.
1. RDSC Membership
2. The Role of the RDO
3. R&D Databases
4. RDSC Publications
5. R&D Funding
6. R&D Links
7. RDSC courses and calander of RDO

1. RDSC Membership

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	Role and e-mail contact details
Ann Birch	Chair annbirch@edgeware.fsnet.co.uk
Barbara Steward	RDO barbara_steward@hotmail.com
Bridget Ellis	Member
Cathy Bucher	Member
Katrina Bannigan	Member
Cathy Ball	Member
Nicola Goldsmith	ESC representative
Anna Pratt	Executive Representative

2. The Role of the RDO

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The role of the Research and Development Officer is developing in many directions, but
members may seek help in the following areas.

Individual Support	- To discuss ideas for research. - To develop research proposals. - To discuss research methodologies and methods. - To plan conference presentations and publications. - To have a preliminary review of publications prior to submission. - To access databases to identify research collaborators and avoid research duplication. - Access BAHT R&D Courses and gain information about R&D courses and conferences. - Discuss and locate research funding
Hospital or Unit Support	- To receive a visit from the RDO to educate or support hand therapists. - To seek help with developing audits, evaluations and research in hand therapy. - To develop and support journal clubs. - To develop multiple site and multi- professional research collaborations. - To gain access to databases of research projects, research active therapists and units for collaboration and inter site visits.
Regional Hand Therapy Groups	- To promote regional group activities and support regional BAHT meetings and events. - To seek help with developing audits, evaluations and research in hand therapy. - To host and organise BAHT R&D courses on which the RDO will provide free teaching input.

3. R&D Databases

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The RDSC aims to build a range of databases and to encourage BAHT members to contribute to existing professional research databases. Members are advised to search all of the following for information and to submit contributions appropriately to disseminate their research proposals and completed work. Further details available on-line and from BAHT RDO.

BAHT R&D Database	A database of audits, evaluations, research projects. It contains projects in preparation and a list of units prepared to arrange visits.
BAHT hospital and unit visit scheme.	A database of units prepared to host visitors interested in specific aspects of clinical or research activity in hand therapy.
CSP/COT Research database	A list of therapy research projects completed and usually available from the College or Society libraries.
CHAIN (Contact, Help, Advice, Information and Network for People in the NHS)	A database of research active and interested health related workers. Ideal for locating current research and potential collaborators.
National Research Register	Includes NRR Project database, MRC Clinical Trials, Register of Reviews in Progress, and Health Research at York database, Abstracts of Cochrane Reviews and a Register or Registers.

4. RDSC Publications

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The following are the references for publications associated with the work of the RDSC.

Steward B. (2002) Live Research: A Preliminary Investigation of Research in Hand Therapy British Journal of Hand Therapy 6(4): 119-125

Steward B (2002) Priorities in Hand Therapy Research British Journal of Hand Therapy 7(1): 28-33

RDSC (2002) A strategic plan for research and development in the British Association of Hand Therapists. British Journal of Hand Therapy Forthcoming

Steward B (2003) The Process of Prioritisation: Thoughts on identifying Research Priorities in Hand Therapy. British Journal of Hand Therapy 8(3): 110-114

5. R&D Funding

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Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC)
Educational travel/training bursaries available to AHPs to promote awareness and understanding of the care of patients with arthritis and musculoskeletal disease. Bursaries available to attend relevant conferences, training courses or to visit hospital units. Advertised February, May and October. Closing dates, April, July and October. Visit www.arc.org.uk/research/schemes.html

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and the Health Technology Devices (HTD) programmes offer research funds and are currently interested in involving AHPs. Visit http://www.ncchta.org/

Queens's Nursing Institute have an Innovation and Creative Practice Award Scheme offering £6000 to teams where at least one member is a community nurse for schemes aimed at providing quality care for patients and clients in the community. Visit http://www.qni.org.uk/public/loggedin/awards/icp.cfm

The Health Foundation - Nursing and Allied Health Professions Research Training Fellowships.
This is the final round of this scheme which seeks to build research capacity and encourage academic achievement in the Allied Health Professions.You require a minimum of 5 years post registration experience and may be at a post doctoral level. However, applications can be made to undertake doctoral studies. Fellowships are 3 years full time or 4 years part-time. Application deadline is 12th January 2004. Visit http://www.health.org.uk/ourawards/fellowships or e-mail info@health.org.uk

The Health Foundation- Leading Practice through Research Awards
This fund encourages research in projects which make a direct difference to the quality of patient care or the health of the population and to assist people wishing to build on their professional career through the development of leadership skills. For details visit http://www.health.org.uk/

RDInfo
A database of health related research funding and training opportunities. Visit http://www.rdinfo.org.uk/ and special resources for AHPs visit http://www.rdinfo.org.uk/Newsletter/AHP.pdf

HSA Charitable Trust
Grants of up to £750 are available to BAOT members of two years standing,to undertake short post-registration study courses which will improve their specialism and/or professional development.The award covers course fees only and can be applied for at any time during the year until the annual fund has been dispersed.contact lesley.gleaves@cot.co.uk ot 020 7450 2323.

The Health Foundation
leading practice through research awards.this fund encourages research in projects which make a direct difference to the quality of patient care or the health of the population and to assist people wishing to build on their professional career through the development of leadership skills.For details visit http://www.health.org.uk/ and for under resources on the research page.

NeLH - The National Electronic Library for Health
offers a new service called 'prodigy' providing an up to date source of clinical knowledge that can support health care professionals to manage conditions seen in primary care.Connect to http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/ to register

Qualitative Research Network
This is an on line journal published three times a year.It seeks to promote discussion and co-operation amongst qualitative researchers.connect to http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/

There are also a number of BAHT bursaries available for research and development - see bursaries link for information

6. R&D Links

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Society for Research in Rehabilitation (SRR) Open to health care professionals and academics. Visit http://www.srr.org.uk/

American Society of Hand Therapists is offering an on-line video about hand therapy and the ASHT (NB it has a very long download time). Visit www.asht.org/whatis_handtherapy.html

COREC provides information about recent changes in research ethics approval. Visit www.rdforum.nhs.uk/recprogramme.html and http://www.corec.org.uk/

Consumers in NHS Support Unit are researching the extent and nature of active consumer involvement in health promotion research carried out over the last 3 years. A questionnaire is available on http://www.conres.co.uk/letter.html.

7. RDSC courses and calander of RDO

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The RDSC plans each year to provide a lecturer for 3 courses which can be hosted by any unit or Regional Group. The costs of teaching space, lecturer travel costs and accommodation will be charged in course fees, but will still offer a very cost effective research training option for hand therapists. Details are available from the RDO. The 2002-2003 courses areas follows:-

Starting Research in a Clinical Setting	2 day course
Publishing and Presenting Research	1 day course
Using IT in research	1 day course

NCCRDC Conference
How to build research capacity in the NHS:Understanding the strategies that work.Church House London
Date:	22 Feb 2005 - 22 Feb 2005

Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co coordinating centre(Institute of Eduction,University of London)
Offers short courses in systematic research synthesis in qualitative research.Participants can apply for one or all days at £165 per day.CHAIN members get a 10% discount. Dates-workshop-1: 11th or 13th May,workshop-2:18th May,WORKSHOP-3:25th May.
Contact:	Ripa Haque
Tel:	020 7612 6131
Email:	r.haque@ioe.ac.uk
Website:	http://http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk

Applied Health Research for PGCert/Dip/MSc
Middlesex University. The course is targeted at individuals currently working or wishing to work in health research. It has been developed with recent developments in health care in mind (Research and Clinical Governance, Evidence-based practice) It emphasizes the use of research methods and the application of research findings in health settings.
Tel:	020 8411 6784
Email:	r.papadopolous@mdx.ac.uk

St Martin's College, Lancaster
A selection of CPD courses available for OTs, OT support workers and other health and social care professionals. E.g. Getting Started on the Internet.
Email:	l.sharpe@ucsm.ac.uk
Website:	www.ucsm.ac.uk/courses/health/cpd/courses.php?id=12

For details of courses in your area visit http://www.rdlearning.org.uk/

Other Useful Information/Contacts

R&D Directorates
Each one of the 4 new DHSCs (North, Midlands& East, London and South) have an R&D Directorate with their own Website. Locate the latest information on http://www.doh.gov.uk

Rdlearning is a database of courses related to research training. Contact http://www.rdlearning.org.uk/

If you are wondering where to submit an article there is a Webpage offering the author's guidelines for over 350 journals. Contact http://www.mco.edu/lib/instr/libinsta.html

RDDirect is a new research advisory service providing a helpline and e-mail support service. Contact 0113 295 1122 or e-mail: info@rddirect.org.uk

COT Research Ethics Guidelines
This is an excellent new publication on ethics in research. Visit http://www.cot.co.uk/