Top 10 Research Priorities for the Allied Health Professions Workforce Published
The Allied Health Professions Workforce Research Partnership (AHP WRaP) has published the Top 10 Research Priorities for AHP Workforce Research in the UK, following the completion of a national Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) conducted in association with the James Lind Alliance (JLA).
This landmark project marks the first time that Allied Health Professionals, system leaders, researchers, and people and communities who use AHP services have come together on a national scale to identify the most important unanswered questions about the AHP workforce.
The PSP gathered more than 1,700 contributions from across the UK, representing all 14 Allied Health Professions. Using the rigorous and transparent James Lind Alliance methodology, these contributions were reviewed, refined and prioritised before being agreed through a final consensus workshop.
The resulting Top 10 priorities identify where research is most urgently needed to support a sustainable, skilled and future-ready AHP workforce. They will help guide future research activity, funding decisions, policymaking and workforce development initiatives across the UK.
Key Outputs Now Available
- Top 10 Research Priorities Infographic
- PSP Process & Engagement Infographic
- Full list of 26 priorities,
- Methodology, and project information available on the JLA website.
- Launch announcement on LinkedIn
About the Priority Setting Partnership
Delivered in partnership with the James Lind Alliance, the AHP WRaP PSP followed an established methodology for identifying shared research priorities across professional groups and service users.
The process included:
- A national survey to gather research uncertainties and unanswered questions
- Thematic analysis and verification of existing evidence
- A second national prioritisation survey
- A final consensus workshop involving frontline AHPs, researchers, NHS leaders, professional bodies and people with lived experience
This work ensures that future AHP workforce research is grounded in the needs and experiences of the professions and the communities they serve.
Professor Julie Nightingale, PSP Lead and Project Director, AHP WRaP, said:
“Completing this PSP has given us a clear, collective view of where research can make the biggest difference to the AHP workforce. These priorities reflect the voices of AHP practitioners, NHS leaders, and service users from across the UK.”
CAHPR is pleased to support the dissemination of these findings and encourages members, researchers, educators and workforce leaders to explore the outputs and consider how the identified priorities can inform future research and collaborative activity.
For Further Information
Website: https://research.shu.ac.uk/ahpwrap/