PROMOTING RESEARCH IN PHYSIOTHERAPY: A BELGIAN EXPERIENCE

Over the last 30 years research has substantially increased at the department Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Leuven. This growth has been very important input for improving clinical practice. The ‘research’ profile of the physiotherapy department has also been important to strengthen the position of physiotherapy in health care and (inter)national research. The lessons that we learned for the development of research in the department were:

• 1.

  Research has contributed importantly to the development of our profession (patient care, health care management, profile of the profession);

• 2.

  Essentials for the growth of research:

  • •

    Build partnership with established clinical research groups in health care (medicine): that needs to be your initiative.

  • •

    Funding is essential to allow devoted time for research: participation/initiation in collaborative research projects for funding is key.

  • •

    Build capacity of researchers in physiotherapy:

    • ∘

      Engage partners from the clinical service perspective (improvement of patient care) with specific physiotherapy expertise; Involvement of clinical expertise will expand (wo)man power.

    • ∘

      Inspire your students by sharing questions and uncertainties on the ideas of assessment and treatment in your teaching and allow them to participate in (master) research projects. They will also be the young researchers that are needed.

    • ∘

      Send PhD students, postdocs or tenure track academics for a period of time to established research groups (national or international).

    • ∘

      After some time of establishing your research profile, international students and researchers will also come your way.

  • 3.

    Academics/teaching staff/researchers should keep practicing: be inspired by your patients in your efforts to improve clinical service, research and teaching;

  • 4.

    Be convinced that your efforts to improve outcome of patient care will be much appreciated by (in addition to your patients) other health care professionals;

  • 5.

    Do not fear ‘negative’ outcomes, they provide oftentimes a ‘positive’ outlook and offer new opportunities and insights;

  • 6.

    Collaboration in clinical care and research is crucial, consider that research in isolation will not expand the borders outside your capacity.

Palabras clave: Fisioterapia; Investigación; Universidad

Keywords:Physical Therapy Specialty; Research; Universities