Research Capacity and Culture of Podiatrists in Canada (Quebec) and France: A Parallel Cross-Sectional Study.
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Human Kinetics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.
- 2VITAM-Research Centre on Sustainable Health, Québec, Québec, Canada.
- 3In Silico Data Science, Research Support Department, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
- 4Podiatry Unit, Diabetes Department, APHP, Pitie Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.
- 5Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec (CIUSSS-MCQ) Affiliated to Université de Montréal, Faculty of Medicine, University Family Medicine Group, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada.
- 6School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- 7Allied Health Research Collaborative, The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Abstract
Introduction
Research capacity and culture (RCC) are essential for high-quality care. However, RCC remains poorly documented among French-speaking podiatrists. This study aimed to assess RCC among podiatrists in Quebec, Canada, and France at the individual, team, and organizational levels, and to compare RCC scores between both groups.Method
A parallel, cross-sectional study was conducted targeting all licensed podiatrists practicing in Quebec, Canada (n = 304) and France (n = 14,208) in 2023. The data collection was carried online using a validated French version of the RCC tool items at the individual, team, and organizational levels using an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no ability) to 10 (perfect ability). Mean RCC item scores (±SEM) were compared between Quebec and France respondents, with exploratory item-level analyses. Regression analyses were also used to determine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and overall RCC scores.Results
A total of 2272 podiatrists initiated the survey (127 from Quebec and 2145 from France). Overall, mean individual RCC scores were low, but significantly higher in respondents from Quebec than those from France (3.32 vs. 2.75; p < 0.05). Team scores (2.29 vs. 1.82; p < 0.05) and organizational scores were also low overall, but significantly higher in respondents from Quebec than those from France (2.31 vs. 1.84; p < 0.05). Higher overall RCC scores were significantly associated with more dedicated research time, active research involvement, and research training; among Quebec podiatrists, practice outside private practice was also associated with higher RCC scores (all, p < 0.05).Conclusion
This is the first analysis of RCC among French-speaking podiatrists, and overall RCC levels were low. Higher RCC scores were associated with active research involvement, dedicated research time, research training, and, among Quebec podiatrists, practice outside private practice. These findings highlight potential targets for capacity-building initiatives to strengthen evidence-based podiatry in French-speaking contexts.
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BibTeX
@article{libier2026research,
title = {{Research Capacity and Culture of Podiatrists in Canada (Quebec) and France: A Parallel Cross-Sectional Study.}},
author = {Solène Libier and Sergio Cortez Ghio and Antoine Perrier and Magali Brousseau-Foley and Peter Lazzarini and Virginie Blanchette},
journal = {Journal of foot and ankle research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/jfa2.70227},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42876005},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Research Capacity and Culture of Podiatrists in Canada (Quebec) and France: A Parallel Cross-Sectional Study.
AU - Solène Libier
AU - Sergio Cortez Ghio
AU - Antoine Perrier
AU - Magali Brousseau-Foley
AU - Peter Lazzarini
AU - Virginie Blanchette
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Journal of foot and ankle research
DO - 10.1002/jfa2.70227
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42876005
AB - Introduction Research capacity and culture (RCC) are essential for high-quality care. However, RCC remains poorly documented among French-speaking podiatrists. This study aimed to assess RCC among podiatrists in Quebec, Canada, and France at the individual, team, and organizational levels, and to compare RCC scores between both groups.Method A parallel, cross-sectional study was conducted targeting all licensed podiatrists practicing in Quebec, Canada (n = 304) and France (n = 14,208) in 2023. The data collection was carried online using a validated French version of the RCC tool items at the individual, team, and organizational levels using an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no ability) to 10 (perfect ability). Mean RCC item scores (±SEM) were compared between Quebec and France respondents, with exploratory item-level analyses. Regression analyses were also used to determine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and overall RCC scores.Results A total of 2272 podiatrists initiated the survey (127 from Quebec and 2145 from France). Overall, mean individual RCC scores were low, but significantly higher in respondents from Quebec than those from France (3.32 vs. 2.75; p < 0.05). Team scores (2.29 vs. 1.82; p < 0.05) and organizational scores were also low overall, but significantly higher in respondents from Quebec than those from France (2.31 vs. 1.84; p < 0.05). Higher overall RCC scores were significantly associated with more dedicated research time, active research involvement, and research training; among Quebec podiatrists, practice outside private practice was also associated with higher RCC scores (all, p < 0.05).Conclusion This is the first analysis of RCC among French-speaking podiatrists, and overall RCC levels were low. Higher RCC scores were associated with active research involvement, dedicated research time, research training, and, among Quebec podiatrists, practice outside private practice. These findings highlight potential targets for capacity-building initiatives to strengthen evidence-based podiatry in French-speaking contexts.
SN - 1757-1146
ER -