As I approached the end of the first year of my MSc in physiotherapy, we were introduced to a module which involved researching a topic of our choosing and evaluating the current state of literature where we were to identify a gap within current research in order to review and propose a research idea (1). This was a challenging piece of work due to the substantial size of it, but I learnt a wide range of skills throughout completing this project. The Dissertation: Literature Review & Research Project (highlighted in yellow throughout) was a task that consisted of designing a research proposal. Planning my idea came through my reading of the current state of literature (evidenced - Dissertation: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Introduction) involved around the management of non-operatively managed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries due to a growing body of evidence citing good outcomes through non-surgical management (2), where I identified a gap of – little to no inclusion of running-based agility exercises in ACL-deficient knees. I was then able to conduct and manage the research/evaluation process, where I considered my study design & sample size, ethical approval, participant recruitment, consent, randomisation, procedure, intervention and data analysis (evidenced - Dissertation: Literature Review & Research Proposal) which I managed throughout the research/evaluation process (1), demonstrating this domain descriptor effectively.

I found that for myself to be successful at obtaining all relative literature for my systematic review, I had to use methods of enquiry to collect and interpret data in order to address issues of practice (1). I started compiling literature for my systematic review through the use of different search engines for scientific literature, which was a sound method to collect data (evidenced – Dissertation: Data Collection, Analysis & Appendix – Search Strategy) (1). From here, I used an array of Boolean operators which was an approach that allowed me to narrow down search results for literature that fitted my research idea (evidenced - Dissertation: Data Collection, Analysis & Appendix – Search Strategy and Appendix 3), again demonstrating the use of enquiry to collect data (1,3). This enabled me to collate the papers I deemed eligible for my systematic review (evidenced - Dissertation: Data Collection, Analysis & Appendix – Appendix 1 and 2) where I broke them down into different categories in order to interpret the data in order to address problems and/or issues from practice (1), this enabled me to come to a conclusion (evidenced - Dissertation: Data Collection, Analysis & Appendix – Conclusion) where a gap and problem within practice was identified in order to address the issues I extrapolated, demonstrating an ability to use methods of enquiry to collect and interpret data in order to address problems or issues from practice (1).

The completion of this research process was something that I have rarely had the chance of doing previously, therefore I was going to take full use of this learning opportunity. As I approached the end of my research proposal, I felt it was apt to critically evaluate the research/evaluation process through identify limitations within this study design (1). Limitations within research are important to understand to place research in context, through the interpretation the validity of scientific work, enhancing its credibility (4). This critical evaluation came in the form of my dissertation research proposal limitations section (evidenced – Dissertation: Limitations) where I considered the inclusion/exclusion of a surgical group within my study, training into fatigue and correlating performance improvements with patient-reported outcomes. I was able to highlight these through critical evaluation of this research/evaluation process whilst still being able to justify my decisions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on and review practice in order to ensure a commitment to excellence is maintained (1,5).

Following the competition of research, it is important to ensure the conclusions of research are shared with the wider population of all interested parties (6). Therefore, a section of my dissertation was documented around how I would disseminate my research and communicate the outcomes of my research/evaluation process (1) (evidenced – Dissertation: Dissemination of Methods). I believe it is important to be able to communicate the outcomes of research in order to support the development of physiotherapy, and as a result, be able to assure quality of practice (1,5,7).

Reference List

1. Physiotherapy CS of. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Framework [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020 Mar 23]. Available from: http://www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/careers-development/cpd/csp-eportfolio/my-eportfolio/cpd-
2. Frobell RB, Roos EM, Roos HP, Ranstam J, Lohmander LS. A Randomized Trial of Treatment for Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears A BS TR AC T. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:331–73.
3. “What is a Boolean Operator?” [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jul 3]. Available from: http://library.alliant.edu
4. Ioannidis JPA. Limitations are not properly acknowledged in the scientific literature [Internet]. Vol. 60, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. Elsevier USA; 2007 [cited 2020 Jul 3]. p. 324–9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17346604/
5. Council H and CP. Physiotherapists | The Standards of Proficiency For Physiotherapists [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020 Mar 24]. Available from: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/physiotherapists/
6. Research NI for H. How to disseminate your research [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2020 May 4]. Available from: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/how-to-disseminate-your-research/19951
7. Charted Society of Physiotherapy. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy xx Professional Values of Members’ Code and Behaviour 2 Code of Members’ Professional Values and Behaviours [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Apr 9]. Available from: https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/csp_code_of_professional_values_behaviour_full.pdf