ENHANCE Project
ENHANCE Project: Enhancing the Research Development of Medical Specialty Trainees
It is essential that all medical specialist trainees are able to identify and apply important research findings when caring for patients. Some may also participate in conducting research, and a few will become research leaders. While research and evidence-based practice competencies are incorporated into most speciality training program curricula, for some time there has been concern that the programs do not provide the best environments to develop these skills adequately. For instance, analysis of Specialist Medical Colleges research curricula and their training program selection criteria both indicate an excessive reliance on leading research projects rather than identification and promotion of core research competencies.
The ENHANCE Project aims to explore and improve the research expectations and training set by Specialist Medical Colleges.
Broadly, we aim to:
- Understand what is happening in practice; namely the quality of trainee experience and the quality of the research itself; and
- Develop a core research curriculum, including recommended practice pedagogies, for doctors undertaking their clinical specialist training.
We are currently working collaboratively with 11 principal Australian and New Zealand Specialty training colleges, several national and international universities, and former Australian Medical Council members. We welcome additional collaborators to reach out to us.
Project lead
Dr Paulina Stehlik
Paulie is a trained pharmacist and data scientist with expertise in teaching, evidence-based practice, and its application to common clinical problems.
Current ENHANCE Projects under way
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A mixed methods study examining Australian and New Zealand specialist trainees' experiences and research outputs
This project will survey and interview current and past trainees to understand what is happening in practice; namely the quality of trainee experiences and the quality of the research itself. Ultimately the purpose of the project is to use this information to co-develop research training curricula with the colleges.
If you wish to take part in this study or receive updates, please email: [email protected]
This project is being funded by the Gold Coast Health Collaborative Research Grant Scheme 2020.
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Getting consensus and core research competencies for Australian and New Zealand specialist trainees
This project aims to develop the core competencies of a revised research curricula used by specialty trainees in Australia and New Zealand using a modified-Delphi.
If you wish to take part in this Delphi study or receive updates, please email: [email protected]
Publications
- P. Stehlik, C. Noble, C. Brandenburg, P. Fawzy, I. Narouz, D. Henry and P. Glasziou, How Do Trainee Doctors Learn About Research? Content Analysis of Australian Specialist Colleges’ Intended Research Curricula 2020. BMJ Open. 10 (3) e034962;10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034962
- P. Stehlik, D. Henry and P. Glasziou, Specialist College Training: A Potential Source of Research Wastage 2020. The BMJ Opinion https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/07/14/specialist-college-training-a-potential-source-of-research-wastage/
- Withers, C., Noble, C., Brandenburg, C., Glasziou, P.P. and Stehlik, P., Selection criteria for Australian and New Zealand medical specialist training programs: another under-recognised driver of research waste. 2021 Med J Aust. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51250