Help:Researchers Guide

 End-of-grant Knowledge Translation Support through Physiopedia

• Are you a researcher/research group with interests in physical therapy and global health?
• Are you currently developing an end-of-grant knowledge translation activity that demonstrates the impact of your work?
• Are you applying for funding that requires a comprehensive knowledge translation plan which demonstrates the benefits of your research and how your research will advance science, practice, policy or well-being?
• Are your target end-users physiotherapists?

If you answered yes to one or all of the questions above, you might be interested in partnering with Physiopedia to help create and deliver your knowledge translation plan.  

This guide explains how you as a researcher or research group can use Physiopedia to disseminate your research and contribute your knowledge to this global resource for the rehabilitation community.

Physiopedia's reach

Physiopedia is a UK based charity that brings value to the global physical therapy profession through our mission to improve global health by creating universal access to physical therapy knowledge. We aspire to gather current physical therapy knowledge and make this freely available worldwide. We aim to foster international collaboration to empower the global physical therapy profession. We offer educational opportunities to physiotherapists with the intention to improve patient care and contribute positively to global health.

Physiopedia reaches across the globe and connects physiotherapists with current research and resources. Our website is dynamic, updated regularly, and improved upon by a dedicated group of physiotherapists from around the world. Our current website statistics indicate that we have:

• an average of 2 million webpage views per month
• over 500,000 people accessing our site every month
• users come from over 230 countries
  • the top 5 countries that access Physiopedia monthly are:United States of America, United Kingdom, India, Australia and Canada
    

Our platform - an ideal place for knowledge translation activities

Sharing your research on Physiopedia helps to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to your knowledge end-user, the physiotherapist. We offer support to researchers by helping to create appropriate knowledge translation activities for physiotherapists. We can work with your research team to help develop your end-of-grant knowledge translation plan. Some examples of ways we can share your research are listed below.

• Participate in a web-based interview with a member of the Physiopedia team, where you can discuss your research, your finds and the clinical implications of your work.
• Create and update Physiopedia pages with the knowledge gained from your research or the creation of your research project
• Become involved with our online magazine – Physiospot. There are several opportunities for researchers on Physiospot:
  • Research – share an abstract of your findings and how your research builds on the current state of knowledge
  • Interviews - participate in a written question-answer interview which highlights your work as a clinician-scientist.
  • Voices - write regular updates about your research and the research process

• In collaboration with Physiopedia, create an online course for PhysiopediaPlus based on your research results.

• In partnership with Physiopedia create a massive open online course.

A partnership with Physiopedia will allow you to provide potential research grant funders with clear details about how the knowledge gained from your research will be disseminated to the appropriate end-users. Your funders will also be able to see how your results can be used to create an exchange of learning with your knowledge users and how the results can be applied to real-world contexts. By partnering with Physiopedia, you can ensure that the knowledge you are transferring retains its quality, is responsibly implemented and is sustainable beyond the period of your grant.  We are happy to work with your team to discuss and help create a knowledge translation strategy plan for your research and grant application.

More on massive open online courses (MOOC) 

Massive open online courses (MOOC) provide a unique opportunity for researchers to connect with physiotherapists from around the world. These courses are considered ‘massive’ because they are web-based and therefore accessible to therapists from around the globe. They are ‘open’ which means they are free which allows your research and knowledge to reach a diverse audience. They are ‘online’ which creates an opportunity to connect, collaborate and learn with peers and colleagues internationally. Lastly, they are ‘courses’ because they consist of an explicit curriculum with learning objectives, have course instructors and evaluations.  

Creating a MOOC as part of your end-of-grant knowledge translation activity is an excellent way to engage with your knowledge end-users while creating a resource that will remain after the completion of the research and funding period. Physiopedia will also evaluate your MOOC, so you can provide your funding institution with a report on how successful your knowledge translation activity was. 

We are experienced providers of open online courses (MOOCs) for the physiotherapy and physical therapy community. More information on the MOOCs Physiopedia has run in the past, and the courses’ final reports can be found here.

Links to research on Physiopedia’s use of MOOCs

Coughlan T, Perryman LA. Learning from the innovative open practices of three international health projects: IACAPAP, VCPH and Physiopedia. Open Praxis. 2015 Apr 22;7(2):173-89.

Hossain MS, Islam MS, Glinsky JV, Lowe R, Lowe T, Harvey LA. A massive open online course (MOOC) can be used to teach physiotherapy students about spinal cord injuries: a randomised trial. Journal of physiotherapy. 2015 Jan 1;61(1):21-7.

Why should you get involved

• It is an easy cost effective method to openly disseminate your research.
• You will have the opportunity collaborative with international colleagues and peers
• Your knowledge will help to educate the global physiotherapy and physical therapy community.
• The work you contribute will be credited back to you and your research group. You are welcome to create an online presence in a Physiopedia profile page to promote your work.
• Active engagement from research groups will be rewarded with a complimentary partnership.
  

Contact us

If you are interested in beginning a knowledge translation partnership with Physiopedia or would like more information please contact Nicole Hills at [email protected].