
Research in health professions education, including medical and nursing education, shapes the future of the field by generating evidence to improve the training of health professionals. By continually evaluating and refining educational strategies, curricula, teaching methodologies and assessment methods, research helps to elevate the standards of health professions education, aligning with the latest in scientific knowledge and healthcare practices. Rigorous and thoughtful research advances health professions education by enabling educators to deliver cutting-edge training to the next generation of healthcare professionals. Research is critical in enhancing the quality and effectiveness of health professions education, including customized learning experiences and ultimately, assessment of the effects of training on patient care outcomes.
The Vital Role of Research in Health Professions Education
In higher education, critical investments in health professions education research should continuously be made to ensure students are aligned with advances in healthcare. An investment in research includes answering questions like:
- How do we best train clinicians to deliver equitable patient care, including how do we measure clinician competency?
- How do we evaluate the implications of various applications of AI in order to optimize appropriate use and minimize inappropriate use?
- How do we evaluate training for teamwork in complex systems that inherently have numerous variables that are difficult to study systematically?
Healthcare is continually changing, driven by advancements in medical science, technology, and changes in patient care needs. Research in health professions education ensures these advancements are effectively applied into health professions education, preparing students to meet the challenges of current healthcare environments. It provides the evidence base for developing innovative teaching strategies, designing curricula that reflect the latest in medical knowledge, and assessing student competencies in a way that aligns with real-world requirements.
Impact on Curriculum Development
One of the primary areas where research has a significant impact is in the development and implementation of curricula for medical and health professions education programs. Research identifies educational needs, determines the best ways to address those needs, designs and validates interventions to provide the necessary education/assess the quality of the interventions, and continues to evaluate this entire process over time to continuously improve the quality of the educational experience. Key aspects include:
- Integration of New Knowledge: Ensuring that emerging scientific discoveries and technological advancements are appropriately integrated into curricula.
- Competency-Based Education: Shifting the focus from traditional time-based training to competency-based models, where students progress based on their ability to demonstrate specific competencies.
- Interprofessional Education: Promoting collaboration across different healthcare disciplines, preparing students for team-based patient care.
Enhancing Teaching Methodologies
Research also plays a crucial role in identifying and refining effective teaching methodologies in health professions education. Through empirical studies, educators can determine which methods are most beneficial for student learning under which circumstances, leading to the adoption of best practices related to:
- Simulation-Based Learning: Providing students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that mimic real-life clinical situations. For example, the Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation Research at the IHP.
- Blended and Online Learning: Utilizing technology to enhance learning flexibility and access, catering to diverse learner needs.
- Problem-Based Learning: Encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills by engaging students in complex, real-world health issues.
Improving Assessment and Evaluation
Assessment strategies in health professions education are critical for evaluating student learning and competency. Research in these areas focuses on developing and validating assessment tools that are both reliable and reflective of the skills needed in clinical practice including:
- Formative Assessments: Offering ongoing feedback to students during their training, facilitating continuous improvement.
- Summative Assessments: Evaluating student competencies at the end of a course or program to ensure they meet the required standards for professional practice.
- 360-Degree Feedback: Incorporating feedback from peers, faculty, and patients to provide a comprehensive evaluation of student performance.
An example of research in action at the IHP involves Health Professions Education (HPEd) faculty members Keri Mans and Anshul Kumar, who created and delivered multiple workshops introducing participants to how the technology in Chat GPT and similar chatbots works and how it can and cannot be used to execute a variety of HPEd-related tasks. Participants engaged in a worksheet activity that enables them to leave the workshop with concrete guidelines and policies they can use in their own teaching and/or a new lesson plan to incorporate generative AI into their own teaching. These workshops were delivered at various PhD and masters seminars.
Research based on these workshops will be submitted for peer-reviewed publication to an educational journal and/or to MedEd Portal so that others can use the preparation resources, lesson plan, and participant worksheet in their own settings.
Roger Edwards, Keri Mans, and Anshul Kumar also presented example uses of and recommendations regarding generative AI tools like Chat GPT to the Mass General Brigham Education Committee. Research in medical, nursing, and health professions education is a core capability for advancing health professions education ensuring that health professionals are trained optimally to deliver high-quality care in a rapidly evolving healthcare industry.