Challenges and facilitators for health practitioners and academics engaging in collaborative research and publication: A systematic review / Herausforderungen und Förderfaktoren für gemeinsame Forschung und wissenschaftliche Publikation von Angehörigen verschiedener Gesundheitsberufe aus Praxis und

Abstract Introduction While academics are frequently engaged in research activities and subsequent dissemination of results through publication, all too often they occur without health practitioner involvement. While there are contemporary expectations that health practitioners will be active contributors to their discipline’s body of knowledge, many find it difficult to prioritise research involvement given the demands of direct patient care. With this awareness as a central focus, we undertook a literature review to identify the challenges and facilitators that impact on health practitioners and academics working collaboratively on research and publishing their findings in peer-reviewed journals. Methods A configurative systematic review was performed with six electronic databases (Proquest, CINAHL, Medline, ScienceDirect, ERIC, SocINDEX) searched for studies from the disciplines of nursing, social work, allied health professions, health management, psychology and sociology. Manual searches were also undertaken to minimise the risk of missed studies. A rigorous search and retrieval process identified 20 relevant studies for inclusion in the review. The studies were first critically appraised then summarised. These steps were followed by thematic synthesis of the findings of the reviewed studies. Results Challenges and facilitators to health practitioners and academics working collaboratively on research activities were found to be related to the interplay between practitioners, academics, educational and health institutions and professional demands. The interplay of these factors emerged as complex. Conclusion Strategies have been recommended that may encourage active partnerships between institutions, health practitioners and academics enabling greater research collaborations and subsequent increased publication of their combined achievements.