As a rotational physiotherapist, Sian’s role is purely clinical working across a wide range of adult and paediatric patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including pre- and post-orthopaedic surgery.
Sian has a strong interest in research focused on pain and holistic approaches to health, wellbeing, and rehabilitation, but due to the nature of her role she had no time available for exploring research avenues, or where to begin. After hearing about the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) routes into research, Sian decided to look into their Health and Care Professional Internship. It’s a tailored programme for those with limited research experience to learn about how research is undertaken and its benefits for services within health and care. Sian was successful and was put onto Pathway 2: Stepping into Research Internship. The 6-month internship aims to advance a research positive culture and embed research in practice.
Sian explains: “It’s a challenge embarking on research when you don’t have previous experience. Not knowing where to look or how to get your foot in the door of research, the demands of a clinical role and the competitiveness in applying for internship programmes are all barriers, but we have supportive staff at the Trust at different stages of their research careers who are happy to share perspectives and advice.”
Sian is working with Consultant Physiotherapist, Lucie Gosling, and is exploring a group of Young Adult hip pain patients. Sian explains: “We’re interested in answering the question: What physiotherapy interventions are currently reported for adults under 50 years old with early degenerative hip conditions? There is a consistent group of young adults under 50 who don't have bad enough arthritis to need a hip replacement, but their condition is too far gone to have early arthroscopy (a type of keyhole surgery for checking or repairing your joints). We don't know a lot about what these people need because the research doesn’t exist, but we know they face years of uncertainty and pain, affecting their quality of life.”
Lucie adds: "Encouraging allied healthcare professionals like Sian to be curious about the care they provide, ask the right questions and then turn it into a research project is essential to improving patient care. It is vital we support this these projects in order to develop meaningful research for patients and research leaders for the future."
In addition to the support from Lucie, Sian is supported by Keele University’s Dr Emma Healey. Dr Healey is a Reader in Long Term Conditions and Postgraduate Research Lead in the School of Medicine. She is also the MSK and Orthopaedic Speciality Lead for NIHR West Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (RDN).
Sian adds: “During this Internship I aim to produce a protocol for a scoping review focused on how early-stage hip Osteoarthritis is currently defined in the scientific literature, and this Internship will provide me with the time to undertake relevant training and to develop my research skills to enable me to do this.”
Sian hopes to apply for a NIHR Pre-Doctoral Fellowship once she completes the internship to continue to develop her research skills. She comments: “My long-term goal is to pursue a career as a clinical academic, combining research with clinical practice to improve patient-centred, evidence-based care within my workplace and the wider community.”
There are many paths into research, with a range of options for those with different levels of experience who are keen to explore clinical academic careers. You can find out more about the range of programmes run by the NIHR here: Health and Care Professional Internship Programme | NIHR and NIHR West Midlands Health & Care Professional Internship Programme :: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
For more information on ROH’s research activities, visit Royal Orthopaedic Hospital - Research
