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 McGill.ÌýÌý
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Simulation-based training is a critical part of preparing healthcare professionals to safely and effectively support patient care. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ boasts one of the best simulation centres for health professions training in North America. Yet, while research is at the very heart of McGill and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science’s international prowess and identity, the SCSIL has historically had a modest record when it comes to scientific research.Ìý
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That has changed.ÌýÌýÌý
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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:Ìý
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- FiveÌýof our new and ongoing research projects are externally funded (recent 2024 storiesÌýÌýandÌý).ÌýÌý
- FourÌýjournal 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.ÌýÌý
- FiveÌýwere published in 2023—a stark contrast to one in 2022 and 2021 and nothing between then and 2015.ÌýÌý
- ElevenÌýconference presentations in 2023 in comparison to seven in 2022 and two in 2021. 2021 constituted our first major conference presentation on record.ÌýÌý
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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’s IMSH, The American College of Surgeons’ Clinical Congress, and The American Educational Research Association.Ìý
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Hot off-the-press examples of research led by McGill principal investigators and first-authored by McGill trainees includeÌýÌýthat medical residents’ 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.ÌýÌý
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Another recentÌýÌýevaluated theÌýeffectiveness 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.ÌýÌý
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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 mostÌý. 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.Ìý
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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’s leveraging technologies, such as AI, virtual simulations and haptic feedbackÌýin simulation, or enhancing psychological well-being and EDI, we are up to the challenge and hope you can join us.Ìý
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Welcome to the golden age of health professions simulation research at McGill. I warmly invite you to learn more about theÌýongoing researchÌýandÌýscholarly productsÌýand aboutÌýconducting your own researchÌýat the SCSIL, including how we canÌýsupportÌýyour health professions simulation education research aims.ÌýÌýÌýÌý
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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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Health Centre. Learn more about Prof. Harley’sÌýresearch.Ìý
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