How to Build Health Practitioners Research Capacity: An Umbrella Review

Abstract

Background Building research capacity, culture and capability (RCCC) among healthcare practitioners is essential for evidence-informed care. No umbrella review has synthesised review-level evidence on RCCC across professions and settings. Objective To synthesise and critically appraise systematic reviews on documented factors influencing RCCC among healthcare practitioners, and to identify strategies that strengthen these factors within healthcare settings. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Cochrane (2005–2025; English) were searched for systematic reviews on RCCC among healthcare practitioners. Reviews underwent two-stage screening and were then appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Data were synthesised thematically and mapped to an ecological model (individual, interpersonal, organisational, community/network, policy/system). Results Nineteen reviews were included; most were high quality. Barriers included time constraints, limited skills, lack of mentorship, infrastructure gaps, and short-term funding. Strategies spanned multiple levels: education, mentoring, protected time, dedicated roles, partnerships, practice-based research networks, and policy supports such as multi-year funding and streamlined ethics. Evidence on long-term implementation of research capacity building interventions and low-resource settings was limited. Conclusions RCCC in healthcare settings is shaped by multi-level and interconnected factors, requiring coordinated and context-sensitive strategies to overcome persistent challenges and harness key enablers. Viewing these factors through an ecological lens is a valuable reference for understanding and organising the information gathered about research support initiatives to align them with established research in healthcare frameworks. To ensure sustainable impact, rigorous evaluation systems must be applied to demonstrate the successful adoption of research facilitators and their contribution to strengthening evidence-based practice. Registration PROSPERO: CRD420251007398.