Briefing Note 7.3
Health Research Policy & Practice in Canada: A (Proposed) Policy Course for Canadian
Researchers, Clinicians, & Policy Management Professionals in Canada
PURPOSE:
To propose a new ‘e-course’ for Canadian health researchers, clinicians and policy makers that could
be led by the Vice Presidents of Health Research (moderators and discussants) and facilitated by
HealthCareCAN Research & Innovation staff (content and coordination) as well as CHA Learning
(business side and technology).
BACKGROUND:
Canada’s research landscape is changing rapidly. Knowledge of this landscape is largely tacit. It is held
by senior leaders like the Vice Presidents of Health Research and individuals entrenched in the field.
However, it is often poorly understood by national and federal policy makers who may be versed in
others areas and transferred into health research decision making portfolios. In addition, since the
CIHR reforms, we see an increasing level of interest among researchers themselves in the research
policy discussion. Finally, within academic health science centres, many health service management
professionals, are engaged in decision making that may affect research but may not have had any
training in this area as it is not typically part of health administration programs.
HealthCareCAN is uniquely positioned to develop and deliver a course in this area because of its
familiarity with the policy contexts, the members who are experts in the field, staff with multi-disciplinary
training and its well-developed e-Learning capacity.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Target audience: The proposed target audiences for this course are the following (1) researchers who
are interested in the policy context; (2) current or future research administrators; (3) clinicians
interested in research policy; (4) policy and management professionals. It is proposed that the course
require individuals to have a Graduate degree and some experience working in healthcare or research
settings.
Course goals: The goals of the course are to introduce individuals to general issues in science,
technology, research and innovation policy and practice in the Canadian context. By the end of the
course, the individual will have had a preliminary introduction to a variety of issues, each of which may
be developed into a more in depth course.
Course format: The proposed format is a webinar course. It would be offered in 10 1 hour webinars
over the span of 10 weeks. The 10 webinars will be divided into 5 topic areas for a total of two hours
per topic. Each webinar would have a discussant and an interactive discussion portion with the webinar
participants. The webinars would be recorded for those individuals unable to attend the live webcast.
The presentation portion of the webinar would be archived for use in future courses or other areas.
Course assessment: This course is not intended for credit. As such, the evaluation is not
comprehensive nor is the course-load intended to be particularly taxing.
VPR Meeting October 22, 2015 – Course Proposal
Page 1
Course Content: The proposed Preliminary DRAFT Syllabus may be as follows:
Topic
1. An introduction to
ST&I landscape
in Canada
2. An introduction to
research funders
3. An introduction to
health research
and the media
4. An introduction to
research impact
5. An introduction to
academic health
sciences centres
6. An introduction to
the
business
machine behind
health research
7. An introduction to
partnership with
the
private
sector.
8. An introduction to
patient
participation,
public support
9. Playing in the
Research
and
Research Policy
Space
10. LEADS for health
researchers and
research policy
makers.
Learning Goal
What are the seminal
documents that policy makers
follow to understand the
research policy landscape and
what is the policy making
process influencing R& D?
Who are the major federal
granting councils in Canada,
sources of funding, and their
own policy challenges;
How does the media discuss
health research and
researchers interactions with
the media
Why is it important to talk about
research impact, what is the
CAHS framework and its
possible implications for
practice
What is the structure function
and role of academic health
science centres in Canada
To understand the role of
research coordinators,
managers, REBs, GCPs, SOPs
etc.
To understand how health
researchers in university and
healthcare settings interact with
the private sector
To understand how
communicating with patients
and the public is important to
the research endeavour
What are the cultural
differences between
healthcare, research, and
policy management settings
that may affect how you
communicate and speak
across these areas?
What is the LEADs Framework
and how it might be used by
those working in this area?
Resources
Discussant
Use S&T Library Discussant:
documents
&
others
Moderator:
Seminal
Discussant:
documents from
granting councils Moderator:
Innovation
Sensation
database
Discussant:
CAHS
Framework
Discussant:
Moderator:
Moderator:
AHSN website
Discussant:
TBC
Moderator:
Discussant:
Moderator:
TBC
Discussant:
Moderator:
TBC
Discussant:
Moderator:
Lavis,
Lomas Discussant:
Articles re two
communities etc. Moderator:
LEADS brochure Discussant:
and book.
Moderator:
Fee structure: The course is available in different fee schedules (i.e. full course vs. individual webinars
or HealthCareCAN members vs. non-HealthCareCAN members vs. private or government sector vs.
students/private individuals). TBD.
VPR Meeting October 22, 2015 – Course Proposal
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Next steps: (1) discuss internally (2) discuss with Vice Presidents of Health Research and modify the
course proposal based on need and feedback (3) discuss with CHA learning for feasibility and then
business modelling (4) confirm discussants and moderators and course materials (5) board approval
and launch.
DISCUSSION
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is the idea in general worth pursuing?
Are the topics and detailing correct?
Would the VPRs be willing to get involved?
If the course were handled by R&I staff, could CHA Learning handle business side?
RECOMMENDATION
No recommendations are forthcoming at this time. For information only.
Prepared by: Tina Saryeddine
Date: August 11, 2015
VPR Meeting October 22, 2015 – Course Proposal
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