Background
Methods
Approach
Sampling and recruitment
Data collection
Data analysis
Results
Participants
Primary profession | Participants (n) | Total | |
---|---|---|---|
Delivery organization | Monitoring organization | ||
Researchers | 7 | 6 | 13 |
Clinicians | 5 | 3 | 8 |
Managers/Directors | 16 | 6 | 22 |
Total | 28 | 15 | 43 |
IKT not practiced but desirable
Most research is done in silos and is grant-based, mostly clinicians and researchers. I don’t think there’s a lot of interaction with people who run the hospital [HCDO Director 26].I don’t have a lot of interaction with [managers] other than filing a report once a year [HCMO Researcher 34].
You need to put in place structures that allow people to overcome those tribal boundaries….set up social institutions that break those barriers down [HCDO Researcher 07].It is unacceptable that a health services researcher would go off and just study an event without understanding the clinical issues. And in the same way, we shouldn’t be studying the clinical issues independently of the health services researchers. The two parallel processes need to be married much more closely [HCMO Clinician 35].
Strategies to enhance IKT
Theme | Challenge | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
Organizational |
Lack of infrastructure to support collaboration
• There is no mechanism at the moment to foster interaction other than the personal contacts we have [HCDO Researcher 03] • The researchers are out there working on their own in isolation [HCMO Director 43] • We don’t have IT systems that work and talk to each other [HCDO Clinician 23] • One thing that people have been very frustrated about is that they have not been able to share their data with others for research [HCMO Researcher 31] |
Philosophy of collaboration
• Recognition from the highest levels of the organization…identify this as an area of work that is valuable [HCDO Researcher 01] • Creating an environment where these groups can thrive and work together [HCDO Clinician 22]
Infrastructure and dedicated resources
• Health services research needs to actually increase their infrastructure [HCMO Clinician 35] • There needs to be a concerted effort to put resources behind it [HCDO Clinician Researcher 23]
Align IKT with organizational priorities
• Identify what health services research issues are going to be priorities [HCDO Clinician Research 12] • We should be directing in a more clear way with a goal in mind to health services research rather than the health services research kind of doing fishing expeditions [HCMO Manager 35] |
Professional |
Lack of research expertise
• We lack of lot of expertise that would be helpful for health services like biostats, health economists, sociology, psychology [HCDO Researcher 06]
Differing cultures between researchers and managers
• The culture of management and the culture of research are different [HCDO Researcher 07] • So it’s just different cultures [HCMO Researcher 30]
Silos of clinicians and types of researchers
• Organizational structure is still driven by the silos of medicine, nursing, allied health [HCDO Clinician 25] • It may also be a need to work not in silos so the people who have the data won’t be isolated from the people who need the data [HCMO Researcher 30]
Unclear who bears responsibility for initiating collaboration
• Research has to make more of an effort to … make known what could be available to the clinician [HCMO Manager 40]
Not aware of who to contact
• I don’t think I…we have a way of having a good picture of who’s even out there [HCMO Director 43] • They often don’t know that each other exits [HCDO Researcher 04] |
Accrue a critical mass of researchers with differing expertise
• Creating a critical mass of researchers [HCDO Clinician 21] • We’re gonna need to invest in people [HCMO Researcher 30]
Engage intermediaries to broker partnerships
• You need knowledge brokers…who you would contact and say I’m interested in looking at whatever…who’s the policy maker looking at that? [HCDO Clinician 11]
Embed researchers within clinical or management units
• [researchers should] come out of your office, appear on the ward, go to the rounds, sit in the clinic, talk with doctors and nurses and pharmacists [HCDO Manager 19]
Develop a directory of research/researchers
• Some kind of directory…to find people who are content experts and some of their ongoing research to get a flavour of who I might want to approach [HCDO Clinician 11] • Some kind of interactive forum for lodging research questions that feed out to a broader user community [HCDO Researcher 04]
Create forums to enable collaboration
• The managers come present some of their challenges and concerns…or the researchers present their work [HCDO Clinician 11] • Clinical experts and health services researchers all at the same table would be a useful thing [HCMO Clinician 35] |
Individual |
Lack of familiarity or comfort with IKT
• [Researchers are] not well embedded into our processes and we’re not well embedded into theirs [HCMO Director 43] • Their goals may be very similar but they may not really know how to talk to each other [HCDO Researcher 02]
Time required for IKT
• I don’t know how we maintain the relationships because you know how busy people are [HCMO Researcher 30] • Everyone’s extremely busy so getting together isn’t going to happen [HCDO Manager 17]
Lack of incentives or accountability mechanisms
• There really hasn’t been any relationship between management and researchers which is understandable because incentives, experience and accountability differ [HCDO Researcher 07] |
Provide IKT training
• Hold some workshops around how to actually do this to develop that whole skill set [HCDO Manager 09]
Incentivize IKT with accountability mechanisms and recognition
• If health services researchers got credit for impact at a system level, it would influence the way in which they select topics, put together the research teams and knowledge transfer strategies [HCMO Manager 39] • The measure of success may not be publications, it could be developing practice innovations, a new model of care, cost efficiencies, improved access for patients, new educational programs [HCDO Manager 21] • Incentives to recognize people for their time…stimulate people’s interest and appeal to what they’re doing and make it look worthwhile [HCDO Clinician 29] |
Organizational level
It wouldn’t happen organically…there would have to be some manipulation of people and their priorities…a director and staff that could actually facilitate this sort of thing [HCDO Clinician 14].
[IKT] has got to be placed as one of the values [HCMO Researcher 30].
It should be research that would benefit the organization and not be a stand-alone academic issue [HCDO Clinician Manager 21].
Professional level
You could have people who function as matchmakers….to help people talk the same language [HCDO Researcher 04].Align business managers with clinical programs [HCDO Manager 20].
Getting an inventory of what’s going on in the organization [HCDO Manager].Clinical experts and health services researchers all at the same table would be a useful thing [HCMO Clinician 35].
You need to have infrastructure and for this kind of research it’s human equipment [HCDO Clinician 24].
Individual level
I think that if health services researchers got credit for impact at a system level, it would influence the way in which they select topics, put together the research teams and their knowledge transfer strategies [HCMO Manager 39].
IKT planning/evaluation framework
Component of IKT capacity | Conditions conducive to IKT capacity |
---|---|
ORGANIZATIONAL | |
Culture or philosophy of IKT | • The organizational culture is seen to promote and foster IKT • IKT is recognized by the organization at the highest levels in its goals, strategic plans, performance measures, and operational budget, and advocated by senior leadership • The organization actively promotes collaboration across departments or units |
Dedicated resources to support IKT | • Dedicated resources are allocated for IKT including leaders, coordinators, space, forums and information systems |
IKT linked to organizational priorities | • IKT resources and activities are linked with organizational goals |
PROFESSIONAL | |
Identifying collaborators and initiating IKT | • Staff members are aware of individuals for the purpose of collaboration, and how to identify them • A directory is in place by which to identify researchers or research users for the purpose of collaboration • Staff members are empowered to take the responsibility for initiating collaboration |
Linkages are facilitated by brokers or embedded positions | • Intermediaries or facilitators are in place specifically to support IKT • Researchers are embedded in departments or units • Researchers and research users are familiar with each other’s HSPR needs and values |
Critical volume of researchers | • Expertise is in place or available, including scientists with knowledge and skill in various disciplines and research methods |
Forums offer opportunities for interaction | • A variety of forums, both in-person and technology-enabled are in place to support interaction that may give rise to, or enables IKT • Researchers and research users initiate, lead and participate in IKT forums |
INDIVIDUAL | |
IKT skill or knowledge | • Staff are familiar with the concept of, and approaches for IKT • Education and training are in place or available to develop value and skills for IKT among staff of all levels |
Time for IKT | • Time for IKT is accommodated or scheduled |
IKT is incentivized and recognized | • Staff members are accountable for IKT activities • Time spent on, and the outcome or impact of IKT activities are recognized in performance reviews |