Diabetes educators self-reported experiences, skills and attitudes towards research

Research is integral to the delivery of best practice diabetes education, care and management and a core component of the diabetes educator (DE) role. However, previous studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that although DE s are ideally placed to undertake research, the majority do not participate in research activities. This article describes a study designed to explore the experiences, skills and attitudes of Australian DE s towards research, and to identify the barriers to, and facilitators of, research.