1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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