Practitioner research readiness in public health: findings from three co-produced surveys within local authority practice settings in England

Evidence-based practice in public health is essential for delivering appropriate and effective interventions to improve population health. Robust research underpins evidence-based public health, and it is therefore vital that local public health practitioners have sufficient knowledge and skills to apply research as well as undertake research within their locality. This study aimed to assess individual research skills, knowledge, and confidence, as well as organisational support for research. Three local authority public health teams in England administered an internal service evaluation survey to their staff. Each survey included both closed (quantitative) and open ended (qualitative) items and obtained demographic information. Data from each participating local authority team were combined within a secondary data analysis utilising a parallel mixed method approach, reporting descriptive statistics, and deriving qualitative themes. Across the three participating teams a total of 228 practitioners were invited and 109 responded (48% response rate). Both quantitative and qualitative results showed a clear recognition of the value of research to public health practice, both in general (66% indicated relevance to their practice), and as a method to understand local population health needs. Practitioners also wished to have more research involvement (81% reported research should be part of their CPD) but reported a current low level of research engagement and activity (36% had reported previous involvement over the previous 3 years). Recognised barriers to research engagement included, at a practitioner level: a lack of research skills resulting in low research confidence; time and capacity; organisational barriers such as resource provision (e.g. training, scholarship); and a lack of awareness of existing support structures. Public health practitioners recognise the value of research to their practice but require greater support (both from within local authority structures and externally) to create the framework to enable sustainable evidence-based practice.