Research Challenge

Practice-based, patient-oriented research training program for direct care providers.

Research Challenge

Are you a BCMHSUS direct care provider interested in research?

Do you have a practice-related question, but have limited experience in research?
Are you interested in patient oriented research, but want some guidance?
Are you enthusiastic about applying evidence to improve clinical practice, but are not sure where to start?
Do you want to conduct research to address a knowledge or practice gap and learn more about the research process?

The BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services is launching the Research Challenge — an opportunity for direct care staff to engage with like-minded colleagues to form and answer a practice-based research question through research.

Successful participants form research teams and apply for support to conduct a small-scale research study over a 12 month period.
Teams are supported through educational workshops, mentors and up to $5,000 which can be used by teams to release time to work on research.
By participating, direct care providers can develop their knowledge of research and promote evidence-informed practice.

Why participate in the Research Challenge?

Direct care staff are often asked to apply research in their practice, but many do not have the capacity, time or resources to engage in research themselves. However, they can use their unique understanding and experience of their programs, clients and patients to make research meaningful and relevant for improving clinical practice. Enabling direct care staff to conduct research for which they are the users of their own research allows them to fully participate in the cycle of moving research into practice.

The Research Challenge has been implemented in other health authorities in B.C. and has been evaluated to have positive clinical and professional impacts brought meaningful change to staff (e.g., procedures), patients and their families (e.g., quality of life) (Black et al., 2019). Participants became more interested in future research initiatives, dissemination activities (publishing research), interdisciplinary collaboration and promotion of evidence-based practice.

Please direct any questions you may have to bcmhsus_research@phsa.ca.

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Eligibility

The Research Challenge is open to all BCMHSUS direct care staff who do not normally conduct research for their job. We encourage those with more research experience to participate as Research Mentors to Research Teams. More information on eligibility can be found below.

Research Teams

A research team (minimum of 2 members) is formed by a Team Leader and at least one other Team Member.

Team Leaders must be direct care BCMHSUS staff (non-physician), in a regular/permanent position
Team Members can be any staff, with at least one who does not normally conduct research

Research Mentors

We encourage those with more research experience to participate as research mentors as part of the research team.

Any staff with research expertise are eligible (researchers, trainees, etc.)
Offers advice and guides research team but does not complete research work
See Mentor Guidelines and Agreement for more information

How to apply and what to expect

This will be the first time BCMHSUS launches the Research Challenge. Send any questions to bcmhsus_research@phsa.ca.

Eligible staff form a research team of two or more and submit a Notice of Intent (application) to bcmhsus_research@phsa.ca

The Notice of Intent will be evaluated on criteria such as:

Project Idea or Research Question
Alignment with Directional Priorities
Innovation
Potential for positive policy, practice, and client/patient impacts

Teams find a research mentor or request help to be matched with one. Depending on your preference, you can have one mentor or multiple mentors throughout different phases of the research challenge.

Participate in self-assessment evaluation surveys and provide feedback at various time points
Conduct a literature review
Develop, submit and present a funding proposal
Conduct the research project (approx. 12 months)
Provide progress updates and submit a final report to the Research Challenge Advisory Committee
Teams who complete the Research Challenge will be asked to present at a BCMHSUS knowledge exchange event to celebrate (TBD, 2023)

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