By Dr Ben Meadley, Adjunct Associate Professor

Department of Paramedicine, Monash University

Melbourne/Naarm, Wurundjeri Country

Conducting research in the field of paramedicine can present many challenges, from the initial stages of idea creation through to ever-present hurdles accessing funding and getting research published in quality journals.

It can also be daunting trying to decide which type of research methodology you should use, whether you will conduct your research in the clinical practice environment or a lab, will you be analysing large data sets, or will you be exploring qualitative approaches (or even all of these)?

We’ve spoken to some of our emerging and established researchers across the College and paramedicine more generally. These subject matter experts have kindly shared their experiences and insights into the challenges one may experience on a research journey, highlighting common hurdles and offering advice on how to overcome them.

Navigating the initial phases

Getting started in paramedicine research can be a big step, especially if you are looking to balance clinical practice with an evolving program of research. Higher degree by research (HDR) programs are often part of the unknown for paramedics, but asking questions of those who've been there before is often a great way to understand what challenges may lie ahead.

A/Prof Brian Haskins recounts his early challenges with the application process for his PhD. “My first major hurdle in my PhD was the initial application process, as I found it very confusing. However, after reaching out to the graduate office for help, I was able to start my journey,” he said. He also emphasises the importance of starting to write thesis chapters early and using the services of a good thesis editor, describing them as “worth their weight in gold”.

Once the barriers to application and commencement of HDR programs have been overcome, most will find the journey becomes just that little bit easier; but it's important to set up your support network early to ensure you’re ready for the challenges ahead.

Building a research pathway

Getting started in research is often considered somewhat of an unknown. Information regarding minimum requirements, workload, skill sets and starting points can often be hard to come by. The College has many resources to help you get started, so please reach out to any of the members of the Research Advisory Committee if you’d like to have an informal chat. Additionally, there are opportunities to be mentored as you begin to undertake research in paramedicine. You can find out more at: https://paramedics.org/research

Laura Hirello, a PhD candidate, faced the challenge of entering the paramedic research field in Canada, where no formal programs existed at the time. “Despite there being no clear path, I started acquiring the education and credentials I knew I would need to conduct paramedic research,” she said. Her proactive approach involved building a network of paramedics involved in research, which eventually allowed her to seize opportunities when they arose.

While there are plenty of resources to help you get started, your self-drive is a major determining factor. You’ll find that most researchers are very passionate about their subject area. There’s a key message here - passion is what drives good projects and gives you momentum, so find something you’re really interested in knowing more about, or a research question you really want to answer.

Funding and resource challenges

Most research will have some costs associated with it. These could be small administrative costs through to significant sums of money for studies like clinical randomised trials. Funding research is always challenging and grants are highly competitive. Be realistic about what you can achieve with the funding you have and be similarly pragmatic about winning large grants.

Verity Todd highlights the difficulties in securing external funding, a critical aspect for sustaining research projects. “Some of my roles have been completely based on soft funding, meaning I needed to find support for my own salary as well as other research expenses,” she said. To combat this, she advises researchers to take advantage of all funding opportunities and build networks of collaborators for future grants.

A/Prof Belinda Flanagan further elaborates on the financial challenges, noting that “funding is a critical issue, with limited grant opportunities making it difficult to secure the necessary resources.” Additionally, she points out the compounded problem of time management, where the teaching workload often leaves researchers with insufficient time to dedicate to their projects.

The College opens applications each year for research grants. If you have a project in mind and are seeking some seed funding, these can be a fantastic way to kickstart a project. Keep an eye out on the College website and social media channels to find out when applications for these grants are open.

Overcoming academic and methodological hurdles

Submitting your first paper to a scientific journal can be a confronting process. The process can involve multiple steps, turnaround times can be many months, and the feedback from reviewers can seem overly critical. It’s hard to not take it personally. However, there are few more satisfying feelings than seeing your paper in print.

Dr Robin Pap shares his experiences with the peer review process, initially finding it frustrating but soon recognising its value in improving research quality. He also highlights the importance of viewing peer review comments as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Few researchers would say their best papers were worse off for the peer review process. You’ll have to be brave and take the constructive feedback as it’s intended to ensure that your research has the impact it deserves.

Technical and logistical challenges

Statistics and data analysis often pose significant challenges for researchers. A/Prof Ben Meadley recounts his struggles with statistics during his undergraduate education and early PhD. Through a collaborative approach with his supervisor and additional training, he was able to improve his capabilities in biostatistics, recognising the importance of seeking help when needed.

Prof Scott Devenish experienced a significant disruption in his research progress when he had to switch universities and change his research methodology. Undertaking a primarily qualitative program of study, he initially choosing phenomenology; he later adopted grounded theory, which, despite the initial difficulty, proved to be a wise and practical decision.

Further, A/Prof Nigel Barr faced challenges related to time management and understanding complex research methodologies. He underscores the importance of trusting one's supervisors for guidance and learning to balance commitments to effectively manage time.

Taking the time to see the big picture and talk through options with your trusted team of supervisors and colleagues can help make some seemingly calamitous issues relatively insignificant in the long run.

Presenting your research

When the study is done, you must share the results! While everyone would like to be flown to exotic international destinations to disseminate their findings, this is the reality for only a select few, well-established and late-career researchers. Being realistic is important.

Dr Amelia Brennan said that “During my research career, there have been many times when I have submitted an abstract to a conference for an oral presentation, only to be offered a poster presentation instead. This caused me to question whether my research was good enough for a talk. I soon realised that poster presentations offer fantastic opportunities for informal discussions and networking with individuals who were genuinely interested in my work, and some of my most fruitful collaborations have begun in front of a poster.”

Presenting your research orally or as a poster is an art in itself. Attending conferences like ACPIC and the ACP Research Symposium present great opportunities to see what presentation styles work for you. Listening closely to established researchers speak or present their posters is invaluable, and you can build your own style from what you see and hear. Additionally, most universities offer resources to help you sharpen your presentations skills.

Conclusion

The journey of paramedicine research presents challenges, but the experiences shared by these researchers provide valuable insights and strategies for overcoming them. From securing funding and effectively managing time to navigating academic processes and methodological changes, their stories underscore the drive, resilience and adaptability required to succeed. By learning from their experiences, we can be better prepared to tackle these challenges and contribute to the advancement of paramedicine.