Kirsch N1, Sharma S2, Smerdon C3, Patman S4, Glover-Takahashi S5, Woolf R6, Lane M6
1INPTRA, Research Committee, Rockaway, United States, 2INPTRA, Research Committee, Katmandu, Nepal, 3INPTRA, Research Committee, Vancouver, Canada, 4INPTRA, Research Committee, Perth, Australia, 5INPTRA, Research Committee, Toronto, Canada, 6Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, INPTRA, Alexandria, United States
Background: The International Network of Physiotherapy Regulatory Authorities, (INPTRA) recognized that there was a need to establish regulatory standards, and encourage regulators to make decisions, based on best available evidence. Presently there is little evidence to identify or promote regulation that is consistent with best practices. The regulatory research committee was established with representation from countries just beginning to regulate physiotherapy practice, those with established regulatory entities but devoid of the evidence to support their actions and those with an established regulatory research framework. Regardless the level of maturation of the regulating agency the committee felt strongly that all can be engaged in meaningful regulatory research at the level appropriate to their stage of development.
Purpose: To provide a global resource to encourage all countries to engage in regulatory research at the level the nation has the resources to participate in data gathering. Nations just beginning regulation should begin by creating a repository for data. In more established countries a research framework should be developed and implemented. The committee developed a model research framework to encourage participation. The research committee is also committed to developing and sharing resources among regulatory agencies at all levels. Evidence based regulation will help meet the common mission that every regulatory agency has across the world, public protection, by promoting safe and effective practice.
Methods: The INPTRA regulatory research committee explored the Regulatory Research Agenda developed by the Australia regulatory authority as a foundation for a regulatory framework. The committee also identified potential topics for exploration that address common regulatory challenges across the world. Guidelines and principles to assist the international regulatory community were also drafted.
Results: The products from the research committee are the foundation of a working platform to promote the concept of global regulatory research supported by INPTRA.. Regulatory authorities are encouraged to establish their own research agenda that meets the needs of their country. The goal of the committee initially was to establish a framework and identify topics of mutual interest future goals include supporting regulatory research on multiple levels in the public interest to assure safe and effective physiotherapy care.
Conclusion(s): The INPTRA Regulatory research committee recognizes that regulation must be based on evidence, yet very little research has been conducted to meet this objective. An international research committee can support research at multiple levels. The support for research provides the opportunity for sharing between nations encouraging a global commitment to regulation based on evidence.
Implications: Regulatory research is focused on the benefits to the public. It supports the role of the regulatory authority as it evolves through the five stages of development (in italics below) from simple registration to establishing standards, to enforcing compliance, offering remediation and ultimately prevention of inappropriate care. Professional practice will be enhanced by requirements to practice that are supported by evidence and will be beneficial to the public as well as the profession.
Keywords: Regulation, risk, evidence
Funding acknowledgements: The research committee is funded by INPTRA
Purpose: To provide a global resource to encourage all countries to engage in regulatory research at the level the nation has the resources to participate in data gathering. Nations just beginning regulation should begin by creating a repository for data. In more established countries a research framework should be developed and implemented. The committee developed a model research framework to encourage participation. The research committee is also committed to developing and sharing resources among regulatory agencies at all levels. Evidence based regulation will help meet the common mission that every regulatory agency has across the world, public protection, by promoting safe and effective practice.
Methods: The INPTRA regulatory research committee explored the Regulatory Research Agenda developed by the Australia regulatory authority as a foundation for a regulatory framework. The committee also identified potential topics for exploration that address common regulatory challenges across the world. Guidelines and principles to assist the international regulatory community were also drafted.
Results: The products from the research committee are the foundation of a working platform to promote the concept of global regulatory research supported by INPTRA.. Regulatory authorities are encouraged to establish their own research agenda that meets the needs of their country. The goal of the committee initially was to establish a framework and identify topics of mutual interest future goals include supporting regulatory research on multiple levels in the public interest to assure safe and effective physiotherapy care.
Conclusion(s): The INPTRA Regulatory research committee recognizes that regulation must be based on evidence, yet very little research has been conducted to meet this objective. An international research committee can support research at multiple levels. The support for research provides the opportunity for sharing between nations encouraging a global commitment to regulation based on evidence.
Implications: Regulatory research is focused on the benefits to the public. It supports the role of the regulatory authority as it evolves through the five stages of development (in italics below) from simple registration to establishing standards, to enforcing compliance, offering remediation and ultimately prevention of inappropriate care. Professional practice will be enhanced by requirements to practice that are supported by evidence and will be beneficial to the public as well as the profession.
Keywords: Regulation, risk, evidence
Funding acknowledgements: The research committee is funded by INPTRA
Topic: Globalisation: health systems, policies & strategies; Professional issues
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: INPTRA
Ethics committee: INPTRA
Reason not required: This is a report on a global regulatory system, no human subjects are involved and no confidential information has been or will be shared.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
