A research strategy for podiatry

The podiatry profession does not have a formal research strategy. At the behest of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP), the Podiatric Research Forum has organised a consensus forming event, facilitated by Professor Jackie Campbell, to produce the basis of a research strategy for podiatry. The consensus achieved suggested this should achieve the following strategic aims by 2006:
• To have a strategic framework in place, co-ordinated by the professional body, with a funded full-time research officer responsible for developing effective support systems for research – targeting funds, design, publication and co-ordinating research.
• To achieve Index Medicus status for the podiatry journal.
• To establish funded research that is multi-centre/multi-disciplinary, with more enquiries into clinical practice by practitioners.
• To have ownership of the importance of research by SCP council.
• To promote specialist research posts in the NHS.
The central factor in implementation would be to establish the research officer/facilitator post, whose initial responsibilities would be to set objectives and achieve the aims of the strategy. Agreed priorities for co-ordination would include:
• Development of clinical guidelines.
• Collation of audit data.
• Information gathering/dissemination of research successes.
• Research network brokering