Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42743108›Full record

Observational studyPloS one2026

Research productivity and impact of rehabilitation science faculty across Canada: An observational study of publicly available and survey data.

Katie L Kowalski, Joy C MacDermid, Lochlyn Trefiak, Sophie Albuquerque, Lindsay Moore, Dimitra V Pouliopoulou, Allyson Page, Christine Meston, Lynn Shaw, Alison Rushton

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Katie L KowalskiSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2130-652X
Joy C MacDermidSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Lochlyn TrefiakSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Sophie AlbuquerqueSchool of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Lindsay MooreSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Dimitra V PouliopoulouSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Allyson PageSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Christine MestonSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Lynn ShawSchool of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Alison RushtonSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8114-7669

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThis study characterized research productivity and impact of rehabilitation science (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Communication Sciences and Disorders) faculty across Canada.

methodsMixed-method cross-sectional design, using publicly available data and online surveys. Faculty were identified from academic unit websites. Bibliometric indices were obtained using Google Scholar and grant funding from Tri-Council databases. Verification protocols checked data validity. Heads of academic units provided research environment data; faculty reported research impact. Descriptive statistics summarized research environment, bibliometric and grant funding indices. Kruskal-Wallis tests compared indices by appointment title. Regression analyses examined associations with h-index and funding; mixed-effects models explored academic unit clustering. Inductive content analysis identified self-described research impact.

resultsAcross 41 academic units, 685 full-time faculty were identified. Most units reported research supports, including administrative grant support (pre-award = 97%, post-award = 69%) and research facility access (97%). Median (IQR) h-index was: Full Professors: 32 (21-42), Associate Professors: 19 (14-25), Assistant Professors: 9 (6-16), Full Professors, Teaching: 4 (1-12), Associate Professors, Teaching: 3 (2-7), Assistant Professors, Teaching: 2 (0-5), Instructors: 1 (0-3). Tri-Council funding was concentrated among research-focused appointments and senior ranks. h-index was positively associated with publication count (β = 0.62, p < 0.001) and appointment title (p < 0.001) but not discipline (p = 0.66) or grant funding (p = 0.32). h-index variability attributable to academic units was 18.6% (p = 0.003), though research environment characteristics were not significant. Tri-Council funding was positively associated with publication count (β = 1.77, p < 0.001) and appointment title (p = 0.01) but not discipline (p = 0.47) or h-index (p = 0.32), with minimal between-unit variability (p = 0.39). Faculty described research impact beyond traditional scholarly metrics, including clinical practice, research and practice directions, education, capacity building, knowledge mobilization and engagement. DISCUSSION: This study provides a contemporary national characterization of research productivity and impact among rehabilitation science faculty in Canada. Findings support using bibliometric and grant funding indices as a component of research performance evaluations, emphasizing the importance of contextual interpretation and broadly conceptualizing research impact.

Indexed as

FacultyAcademiaBibliometricsCanadaCross-Sectional StudiesEfficiencyHumansSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID42743108
PMCPMC13577373

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.