Implementation and development of an embedded researcher program driven by rural health services: a qualitative
Olivia A King1,2,3,4, Hannah Beks5, Alison Beauchamp6,7
1Western Alliance, Warrnambool, Australia. o.king@deakin.edu.au.
BMC Health Services Research
|September 12, 2025
Summary
A rural embedded researcher program, featuring research translation coordinators (RTCs), demonstrated success in bridging the research-practice gap in rural healthcare. The initiative fostered collaboration and produced positive outcomes for clinicians, organizations, and the region.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Rural Health
- Research Translation
Background:
- Embedding researchers in healthcare settings aims to bridge the gap between research and practice.
- Rural healthcare settings face unique challenges, including workforce shortages and limited research resources, impacting embedded researcher programs.
- This case study focuses on the implementation, development, and outcomes of a rural embedded researcher program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation and development of a rural and regional embedded researcher program.
- To identify the types of outcomes generated by the embedded researcher program across multiple levels.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory case study design was employed.
- Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with research translation coordinators (RTCs), chief executive officers, and academic health science centre (AHSC) executive officers.
- Activity reports and impact case examples were analyzed using a team-based, five-stage framework approach.
Main Results:
- Three key themes emerged: implementation factors (enabling and challenging), role development of the rural RTC, and types of outcomes at rural clinician-researcher, RTC, organizational, and regional levels.
- The RTC role was found to be responsive to health service needs, supported research translation, and engaged strategic partners.
- The program demonstrated success across various levels, indicating positive impacts within the rural healthcare context.
Conclusions:
- The rural embedded researcher program, driven by rural health services, operated successfully within a collectivist framework.
- The initiative produced diverse outcomes for clinicians, researchers, health services, and the wider region.
- Findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and organizations aiming to enhance research and practice in resource-constrained rural health settings.
Keywords:
Embedded researcherHealth services researchMentoringResearch capacity buildingResearch translationRural healthMore Related Videos
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