Formative evaluation of an entrepreneurial funding mechanism for training knowledge brokers in occupational therapy relevant research spaces

We examined how a sponsored contract model (1) produced products of scholarly impact in childhood disability; (2) built scholarly capacity of rising practitioners/scholars in health-related professions; and (3) can be optimized to maximize impact. Data from select lab records and interviews were content analyzed and fitted to the Research Capacity Building (RCB) framework that was situated within the Forging Alliances in Interprofessional Rehabilitation Research (FAIRR) logic model. Traditional outcomes included KT products (53%), followed by publications (16%), presentations (10%), grant submissions (10%), and community research partnerships (10%). Trainees emphasized four professional outcomes including: (1) growing a research network, (2) acquiring research skills, (3) transferring research skills, and (4) assuming leadership roles. Trainees provided multiple suggestions to optimize the contract model. Findings suggest this sponsored contract model yields scholarly products and professional benefits to trainees across multiple backgrounds. Stakeholders could consider increasing leadership opportunities for graduate trainees to maximize impact.