Exploring the role of co-design as a ’mode 2’ knowledge mobilisation strategy for musculoskeletal physiotherapy

"The mobilisation of evidence (research/guidelines/policies) into health care practice is challenging. Traditional (mode 1) approaches to knowledge mobilisation, that is, research undertaken in an academic institution with results published in an academic journal in the hope that clinicians will read them and change their practice accordingly, have been shown to be inadequate. Some research findings can take up to 17 years to get into practice, if at all (Greenhalgh et al. 2016; Holmes, Kelly, and Marshall 2016).

Over 60 theories and frameworks have been developed to help with the mobilisation of new knowledge into practice. The conclusion of many of these is that the process is complex, social and relational, requiring different ways of working and thinking to effectively generate, mobilise and ultimately implement research knowledge into clinical practice (Davies, Powell, and Nutley 2015).

There is a growing trend in taking a ‘mode 2’ approach to knowledge mobilisation, involving collaboration with all stakeholders (service users and providers) throughout the research process in order to help reduce this knowledge to practice gap (Greenhalgh et al. 2016). Co-design is one such ‘mode 2’ approach to knowledge mobilisation. It is a participatory, creative and egalitarian approach to intervention (services/product) development (Sanders and Stappers 2008). It seeks to combine knowledge in all its forms (research, audit, guidelines, experiential), into a practical, tangible output that is fit for purpose and more likely to be implemented in practice (Langley, Wolstenholme, and Cooke 2018; Robert and Macdonald 2017).

Historically physiotherapy and its professional body have successfully disseminated knowledge via media campaigns and their website resources. They have been less successful in providing practical tools for its members to translate these findings into everyday practice. A recent systematic review exploring knowledge translation within musculoskeletal physiotherapy, which accounts for 65% of NHS physiotherapy consultations (NIHR 2018), showed that interventions tended to increase awareness of guidelines but it was unclear whether actual change in clinical practice occurred (Bérubé et al. 2018).

There is a need to improve knowledge mobilisation in musculoskeletal physiotherapy to improve clinical care. Currently there is a lack of research into co-design as a means to promote knowledge mobilisation in this context. The focus of the proposed PhD is on whether co-design can be used as a strategy for knowledge mobilisation in musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice. The plan is to undertake a sequential three phase study:

1. Systematic review of co design and participatory approaches in knowledge mobilisation
2. Qualitative interviews exploring physiotherapy managers, practitioners and patients’ perceptions of the potential of co-design for knowledge mobilisation
3. Case studies to demonstrate the use of co-design to develop knowledge mobilisation strategies in two musculoskeletal physiotherapy departments.

How to apply:
Follow the link in this advert to our online application form.
Select a start date of October 2019 and ensure that you complete the scholarships section of the application form by the deadline.
Please ensure that the project title and supervisors’ names are included in the application.