Since I was first appointed Director of Research at the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning (SCSIL) in 2021, a lot has changed in the area of health professions simulation research at 平特五不中.听听
听
Simulation-based training is a critical part of preparing healthcare professionals to safely and effectively support patient care. 平特五不中 boasts one of the best simulation centres for health professions training in North America. Yet, while research is at the very heart of 平特五不中 and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science鈥檚 international prowess and identity, the SCSIL has historically had a modest record when it comes to scientific research.听
听
That has changed.听听听
听
The SCSIL has become a hotspot for serious health professions research over the last few years. What do I mean by serious? Quantity and quality of competitive, external grants and student fellowships, publications in impactful peer-review journals, and presentations at major international and national conferences. Here are a few highlights:听
听
- Five听of our new and ongoing research projects are externally funded (recent 2024 stories听听and听).听听
- Four听journal articles where research was conducted at and/or with participation from full time staff (e.g., SCSIL simulation research fellow) have been published in 2024 so far.听听
- Five听were published in 2023鈥攁 stark contrast to one in 2022 and 2021 and nothing between then and 2015.听听
- Eleven听conference presentations in 2023 in comparison to seven in 2022 and two in 2021. 2021 constituted our first major conference presentation on record.听听
听
Research taking place at the SCSIL embodies interdisciplinary aims and audiences and has been or is scheduled to be presented at major health professions, simulation, and education conferences, including The Society for Simulation in Healthcare鈥檚 IMSH, The American College of Surgeons鈥� Clinical Congress, and The American Educational Research Association.听
听
Hot off-the-press examples of research led by 平特五不中 principal investigators and first-authored by 平特五不中 trainees include听听that medical residents鈥� psychophysiological activation increases in conjunction with an increase in their use of team-oriented regulation strategies to effectively manage patient care as simulations progress from initial contact to procedural delivery.听听
听
Another recent听听evaluated the听effectiveness of a structured debriefing protocol to enhance non-technical skills during pediatric trauma simulation found that students randomly assigned to the experimental debrief condition statistically significantly improved these skills (e.g., communication and teamwork, and leadership) compared to the control condition.听听
听
Our scholarly findings are not only being published and presented in impactful venues, but our research processes directly align with the research priorities simulation leaders across Canada most听. These include simulation centres supporting university-external research grants to conduct research at simulation centres (e.g., CIHR, SSHRC) and conducting research that can contribute to internal and local guidelines and decision-making.听
听
Simulation education is a pillar of health professions training and poised to shoulder an even greater role in producing top caliber healthcare professionals. Join us in leading Canada and the world in creating and disseminating the innovations and evidence needed to conquer the challenges healthcare faces and seize the many opportunities to do so. Whether it鈥檚 leveraging technologies, such as AI, virtual simulations and haptic feedback听in simulation, or enhancing psychological well-being and EDI, we are up to the challenge and hope you can join us.听
听
Welcome to the golden age of health professions simulation research at 平特五不中. I warmly invite you to learn more about the听ongoing research听and听scholarly products听and about听conducting your own research听at the SCSIL, including how we can听support听your health professions simulation education research aims.听听听听
听
Jason M. Harley, PhD, is Associate Professor (tenured) in the Department of Surgery, Director of Research at the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning, as well as an Associate Member of the Institute for Health Sciences Education and a Scientist at the Research Institute of the 平特五不中 Health Centre. Learn more about Prof. Harley鈥檚听research.听
听
