Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72343
DEVELOP YOUR RESEARCH CAPACITY The primary objective of the articles published in the Somatic Research column has focused on enhancing the reader's research literacy—the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use research data to improve treatment and wellness sessions. Research capacity—playing a role in generating research—is a topic of increasing significance and allure. The more we learn about research, the more we question its theories and methods, and the more we want to influence its processes. Research capacity is indicated when one writes a case report—pursuing it to publication—or participates in a research project, from helping design the protocol on a pilot study with a small number of participants, to training the team of therapists on a large comparison trial. There are those among us who endeavor to be an integral part of clinical research studies, beyond writing case reports, and not just guinea pigs. Without a doctorate, though, this can be a daunting proposition. However, opportunities do exist for massage therapists and bodyworkers to become involved in research studies and get paid for it. OUR ROLE IN GENERATING RESEARCH The prevalence of research competency— skills and abilities in both research literacy and research capacity—in our profession depends on how our profession, our clients, and the health professionals who refer to us value research.1 An increasing number of therapists believe that research can enhance the reputation of somatic therapies, with a handful committed to incorporating new evidence into practice. With increased access to information, our clients are reading research, or at least getting the highlights of health research in the The New York Times and on National Public Radio, for example, and want to discuss the findings. The value of your massage may be enhanced if you demonstrate familiarity with the research, having already taken the findings into consideration when planning a treatment or wellness session. Somatic therapists have a role and a responsibility in the generation and application of new knowledge, as purported in the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's (NCCAM) Strategic Plan, 2011.2 The 2011–2015 plan includes the following strategies toward developing research capacity: • Support a variety of research training and career development opportunities. • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships. • Collaborate with and leverage the scientific and information resources and activities of other fields, organizations, and countries.3 Thankfully, our professional organizations are also setting goals for advancing research literacy and are working to establish collaborative relationships with allied health institutions, helping to place therapists in research settings, and thereby building research capacity. Fortunately, researchers recognize that massage therapists are necessary to designing and implementing significant massage research projects and they are willing to hire therapists as consultants and providers. Funding sources like the Massage Therapy Foundation require that research projects involve massage therapists in order to receive funding. The presence of licensed or certified therapists on projects assures that the research hypotheses ask meaningful questions and the research protocols match how we practice, leading us closer to uncovering information that can assist us in being more effective in our sessions and provide evidence that can enhance our standing in integrative health care. We know we should be research NCCAM recognizes that while complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professionals should be research literate and researchers should come from within the CAM disciplines and lead investigations, training opportunities and funding support have been limited to date. savvy. We are slowly but surely getting there, despite the many hurdles of education, access, and support. We know there is an expectation that we participate in research. But until more of us get formal academic training in conducting our own tune in to your practice at ABMPtv 117