Research Capacity and Culture Development in a Small Rural Health Service

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure changes in staff perceptions of research capacity and culture in a small rural health service in Australia over time. METHODS: Staff completed the Research Capacity and Culture Tool, a valid and reliable survey that measures individuals' perceptions of their own research capacity and the research capacity and culture of their team and organisation. Data from 2015 was compared to 2023, following significant changes at the health service that focused on integrating research into the organisational structure. DESIGN: This was a repeated cross-sectional study in which data were collected from different individuals. SETTING: Data were collected from a rural health service in Victoria (Modified Monash Model 4-5). PARTICIPANTS: All staff working in the health service were invited to complete the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Research Capacity and Culture Tool. RESULTS: Results demonstrated improvements in eleven out of eighteen measures of research capacity and culture at the organisation level, six out of nineteen measures at the team level, but none at the individual level. Median improvements were modest, typically two points on the 10-point scale. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating research into the health service organisation structure may be beneficial for its research capacity and culture.