Building Research Capacity in Health and Care Practitioners: Qualitative Insights From an Internship Program.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Workforce Development
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• A skilled research workforce is crucial for evidence-based practice in health and care.
• Practitioners often face barriers to research engagement, including lack of confidence and skills.
• This study investigates practitioner experiences in a research internship program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore health and care practitioners' experiences during a research internship.
• To identify key barriers and enablers to research engagement for practitioners.
• To understand how research internships impact practitioner confidence and identity.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using normalization process theory.
• Online semistructured group interview with six interns post-program.
• Thematic analysis of data mapped to normalization process theory domains.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: initial uncertainty to purpose, negotiating researcher identity, applying research in practice, and establishing legitimacy.
• Subthemes highlighted the importance of clear expectations, balancing roles, support systems, and organizational adaptation.
• The internship fostered a foundation for future research practice.

Conclusions:

• The internship program enhanced novice practitioners' confidence and researcher identity.
• Effective engagement relied on supervision, peer support, and coordinator input.
• Challenges included workload pressures and misaligned stakeholder expectations.