rehabilitation and therapy research society

Introduction

 

ABOUT US

The Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society was established in May 2004 by representatives of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy university staff across Ireland.
 
The aim of the society is to promote cooperation and collaboration between the universities on the island of Ireland in developing research activity in these allied health professions. Similar societies have been in existence in the UK for at least 10 years and have been successful in raising the profile of research amongst allied health professionals and helping to capacity build research activity through annual meetings and, more recently small amounts of grant funding.

Given the increase in the number of universities offering education in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy we felt is was timely to form a similar society for the Island of Ireland to achieve the same purpose.

Membership is open to all physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists eligible for state registration (or an equivalent physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language qualification). Other disciplines with an interest in joining the society should contact the Chairperson of the Society. The committee and members are also actively involved in promoting and advancing high standards of research in rehabilitation and therapy care. The RTRS would be pleased to welcome new members at any time.

RTRS hold an annual conference in different locations across Ireland. These conferences aim to disseminate research in rehabilitation and to provide researchers in the three therapy professions at all levels of experience from the most experienced researchers to novice researchers an opportunity to present their results. The Society welcomes new researchers such as those who have recently completed Undergraduate or Masters research projects or those undertaking research in a clinical setting who wish to present their research work. The RTRS provides feedback on abstract submission to all those who submit abstracts.  Accepted abstracts are published in Physical Therapy Reviews Journal as part of the RTRS conference proceedings.

Conference 2010 was recently held on Friday 14th May 2010 in Trinity College School for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin.

Full report to follow.