The future of disability research in Australia: protocol for a multi-phase research agenda-setting exercise.
Smith-Merry, J
O'Donovan, M-A
Dew, A
Hemsley, B
Imms, C
Carey, G
Darcy, S
Ellem, K
Gallego, G
Gilroy, J
Guastella, A
Marella, M
McVilly, K
Plumb, J
Imms, C
Carey, G
Darcy, S
Ellem, K
Gallego, G
Gilroy, J
Guastella, A
Marella, M
McVilly, K
Plumb, J
- Publisher:
- JMIR Publications Inc.
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- JMIR Res Protoc, 2021
- Issue Date:
- 2021-10-20
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BACKGROUND: For people with disability to live a good life it is essential that funded research in health and social care addresses their interests, meets their needs and fills gaps in our understanding of the impact services, systems and policies may have on them. Decisions about research funding should be based on a clear understanding of the research priorities of people with disability, their supporters and allies, disability researchers, service providers, and policy makers working in the field. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this protocol is to describe the research design and methods of a large-scale disability research agenda-setting exercise in Australia, conducted in 2021. METHODS: The research agenda-setting exercise involves 3 integrated phases of work. In the first phase, a previous Audit of Disability Research in Australia is updated to understand prior research and continuing gaps in the research. Building on this, the second phase involves a consultation with stakeholders: people with disability and their supporters and family members, the disability workforce, services and connected sectors (e.g., ageing, employment, education, housing), academia, and public policy. Data for the second phase will be gathered via: i) a national online survey, ii) a consultation process undertaken through the government and non-government sector, and iii) targeted consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children with disabilities and their families, people with cognitive disability, and people with complex communication needs. The last phase involves an online survey to develop a research agenda based on the outcomes of all phases. RESULTS: Work has started on two parts of the research prioritisation exercise. The research mapping exercise identified We identified 1241 journal articles and book chapters (referred to as 'research papers') and 225 publicly available reports (referred to as 'research reports') produced over the 2018-2020 period. The data collection for the national survey has also been completed. We received 973 fully completed responses to the survey. Analysis of these data is currently underway. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-method research agenda-setting study will be the first to provide an indication of the areas of health and social research people across the Australian disability community consider should be prioritised in disability research funding decisions. Project results from all phases will be made publicly available through reports, open access journal publications, and easy-read documents. CLINICALTRIAL:
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