The experience of clinician-researchers in occupational therapy

This study examined the experience of occupational therapy clinicians who d o research to illuminate factors that influenced their research, the proces s involved, and the outcomes. The qualitative approach of grounded theory w as used. Purposive sampling of all research-productive clinicians in acute care hospitals in one Australian city occurred. Fifteen clinicians particip ated in in-depth interviews that explored their experiences of research. Re sults were analyzed with the constant comparative method, and six conceptua l categories were developed. These categories were further analyzed in term s of their relationships, and a core category that explained and synthesize d the data was identified- becoming a clinician-researcher. This category e ncompassed a process of role change during which the person changed from cl inician to clinician-researcher. Conditions for this change were identified , and three key concepts were derived to elaborate the core category. In be coming a clinician-researcher, the person was active in (a) identifying res earch as significant, (b) constructing actions in relation to research, and (c) evaluating the key experience. The findings further the understanding of clinician-researchers through the description of their experience and th e empirically based theoretical formulation that explains it.