Ensuring viable and productive research activity in massage therapy: An exploration of MT stakeholder perceptions Ania Kania-Richmond, Martha Menard, Beth Barbarree IN-CAM Massage Therapy SIG IN-CAM Symposium, Calgary, AB November 7, 2014

Project background and objective Grew out of 2012 MT SIG meeting and subsequent discussions To explore and describe perceptions of MT research stakeholders regarding requirements and needs to support development of productive and viable infrastructure to conduct high quality research on MT

Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews Purposively selected key informants: Academically-based researchers MT practitioners involved in research Educators involved in research Interviews audio-recorded and transcribed Descriptive content analysis used to identify emergent themes Key themes and subthemes developed by consensus

Findings Two distinct perspectives emerged: 1. Researchers see research as a distinct or separate activity 2. MT professionals view research more broadly as embedded within profession activities.

Findings Four core components identified by all participants: 1.People with research training 2. Access to funding 3. Collaborative relationships 4. Affiliations with credible research institutions.

Findings Variable components Generally less tangible Support in the form of: Dedicated time Access to colleagues, peers, potential collaborators, such as conference attendance Administrative ‘buy-in’ Credibility Momentum: ‘the black hole’ and the slow bleed’ Tangible support as in funded positions and grants management, IRBs Variable components

Discussion Does diversity of perspective = lack of clarity or consistent vision? Should MT be a stand-alone discipline, or integrated into existing disciplines? Are universities the only place where credible research can be conducted? Research literacy and growing interest in interprofessional education and practice

Recommendations Invest in people Making it formal Create formal research programs in credible institutions Look at other professions for models of success Career pathways for massage therapy researchers Stress relevance to clinical practice