Research in Older People – a multidisciplinary framework

Local South West WACHS Geriatrician Dr Asan Akpan presented an inspiring multidisciplinary workshop for the UDRH SW in October as part of its Research Training Program.

The workshop was entitled “Research in Older People – a multidisciplinary framework”. Clinicians and researchers from Bunbury and surrounds attended, with representation from the disciplines of Nursing, Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Psychiatry.

Dr Akpan discussed the range of ways healthcare improvements can come about as a result of research, service evaluations, audits, clinical quality improvement projects, as well as highlighting the opportunities research activity can provide to the researcher. He stressed the importance of team research in the current health research context and encouraged participants to join teams – not always waiting to be invited, and indeed to actively look to share their own expertise in larger multidisciplinary team endeavours.

The critical nature of research being multidisciplinary in an aged care context was emphasised, with older people often having multiple chronic conditions, longer recovery periods and experiencing health journeys that often involve navigation of multiple silo-ed health services. Hence, the need for research that comprehensively addresses the needs of older people is high. Areas such as frailty, multimorbidity, chronic conditions, cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders and mental health were all identified as areas of need in terms of more research.

Dr Akpan provided a comprehensive overview of different research methods, a framework for multidisciplinary collaboration and examples of successful research collaborative projects.

Dr Akpan can be reached at asan.akpan@health.wa.gov.au or 04337 904 782. You can access the presentation using this link.