ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 11 – medicine | health sciences
although increasingly are higher ranking international, such as the Journal
of Bone and Joint Surgery. Methodology for these studies seem to be
mostly quantitative, usually smaller rather than large studies. There are
also some appropriate qualitative studies and an interesting feature of this
unit is its qualitative work in psychosocial aspects of physiotherapy – such
as motivation, or patient-therapist relationships, which internationally is
quite rare. As yet there are, it seems, few publications in some declared
areas of expertise, such as falls prevention.
Productivity. There is 1 professor, 2 senior researchers, 3 junior researchers
and 7 PhD students, plus 8 additional PhD students within the
MOVE platform. 35 PhDs have graduated from this research area – a
high number in comparison with such groups internationally. The
publication rate is quite high:14 articles in English in 2007. The external
funding amounted to 9.4 MSEK during the assessment period of
2003–2007.
Relevance. The research topics are holistic compared with physiotherapy
departments internationally. Relevance to today’s society is strong- eg.
health promotion, working environment, psychosomatics. Some of the
outcomes of the research have demonstrated cost benefits to society, such
as reduced sick leave. The MOVE platform has the potential to further
harmonise and focus topics in the future.
Overall grading: Very good
3.7 Occupational Therapy
This research area is placed within the Division of Occupational Therapy
and Gerontology. The occupational therapists classify their research
areas under HOW – Health, Occupation, and Wellbeing – exploring
the relationships between engaging activities and health, measuring
outcomes of interventions, and developing instruments, models and
theories. The links between the individual’s experience of occupational
dysfunction and that individual’s health and wellbeing is a particularly
strong area. This division is seen as an important national centre for
occupational therapy research.
Quality. In a relatively short time they has developed research in topics
such as occupational science to a level which compares very favourably
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