Building research capacity in SLT across the EU through mentorship: a new strategic approach

Abstract

Objective: The Evidence-Based Practice agenda poses significant challenges for Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in clinical practice. In addition to skills for understanding and implementing research, SLTs face many gaps in the evidence base e.g. normative data sets for speech acquisition in many languages and intervention studies validated for local populations. At the same time SLTs across EU have developed effective ways of working in their own settings that may merit systematic evaluation. Supporting clinicians to undertake service evaluation and smallscale research is advocated as a way of building capability for individuals as well as capacity for the profession. Models of mentorship are recognised as an effective way to establish baseline competences for individuals to engage with the research agenda. This workshop aims to explore the potential for a cross-EU network of SLT researchers and clinicians to trial and evaluate models of research mentorship.

Methods: This session will open with illustrative examples of regional and national research mentorship. We will adopt a structured process (adapted Nominal Group Technique) for a consensus priority-setting exercise. Participants will contribute to an options mapping activity, including prioritising the action points generated by the group.

Results: The workshop discussions will be recorded as a full list of items and agreed priorities for future action.

Conclusions: The workshop output will comprise recommendations for research mentorship, including proposals for a relevant role for CPLOL to facilitate this.