Exploring the Educational Needs of Australian Naturopaths (eNAT)

Thank you for considering participation in this pioneering study aimed at understanding the educational needs and preferences of the Australian Naturopathic Medicine Profession. The study is being conducted by A/Prof Matthew Leach and Dr Andrea Bugarcic from the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University.

What is this research about?
Health disciplines have a professional obligation to ensure their knowledge and skills are relevant and current. These continuing professional development (CPD) requirements serve to safeguard the public by ensuring clinicians are competent to deliver safe, effective and quality care.

To date, CPD has received little attention in the field of naturopathy. To ensure clinical competency amongst Australian naturopaths, and to facilitate the delivery of safe and effective naturopathic care, it is important that CPD offerings are relevant, appropriate and accessible to clinicians. An important step in addressing these points is determining the educational needs and preferences of the Australian naturopathic workforce.

What does this research involve?
You are eligible to participate if you hold a formal qualification in naturopathy, and reside in any Australian State or Territory. You will be asked to share your views on knowledge and skills gaps in Australian naturopathic education, interest in potential CPD topics, preferred methods of CPD delivery, and barriers to participating in CPD. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. All participants will have the option to enter a draw to win one of five A$50 Visa Cards.

What are the risks associated with this research?
Your participation will enable training providers to develop educational programs/activities that align with the needs and preferences of Australian Naturopaths. The only foreseen risk to participating in this study is the minor inconvenience of completing the survey. Of course, participation in this study is voluntary and you are under no obligation to participate. You also have the right to withdraw from the study at any point without providing a reason.

Our responsibilities to you
This is an anonymous survey. The research data will not be used for any other purpose except for this study. All research data will be stored on a secure password-protected computer drive managed by Southern Cross University, and retained for a minimum of 5 years after publication.

Dissemination of research results
Research findings will be presented at academic conferences, and published in scholarly journals. Your individual responses will not be identifiable in the reporting of this research.

Informed consent
Completion and submission of the survey will imply consent.

Inquiries
If you should have any questions, please contact A/Prof Matthew Leach, as below.

Feedback to participants
If you wish to receive a summary of the study findings, please click on the link at the end of this survey. This will direct you to a separate survey to provide your email address.

Ethics approval
This research has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Southern Cross University [approval number 2020/143].

Complaints
If you have concerns about the ethical conduct of this research, write to: The Ethics Complaints Officer, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2480; or email ethics.lismore@scu.edu.au
All information is confidential and will be handled as soon as possible.

Thank-you.

Associate Professor Matthew Leach
National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
Southern Cross University
East Lismore NSW 2480
E: matthew.leach@scu.edu.au