Building a practice-based research learning community in British Columbia to strengthen learning health systems and health human resources

Ongoing challenges exist for attracting and keeping healthcare professionals in BC and across Canada due to low job satisfaction and working conditions. Professional development opportunities such as practice-based research (PBR) programs offer a solution to these challenges, as they have been shown to increase job satisfaction and retention of clinicians who work at point-of-care and see opportunities for practice and health system improvement. PBR programs provide training, mentorship, and funding to enable healthcare professionals to conduct small research projects that can lead to better patient experience and outcomes. However, more research is needed on the impact of PBR programs as they are not offered in all BC health authorities and there are continued threats (e.g., fiscal constraints, capacity limits) to sustaining existing PBR programs. Our convening and collaborating activities will bring together leaders, clinicians and people with lived experience in the healthcare system, creating a network that will formulate plans for evaluating, spreading and sustaining PBR programs, for the benefit of patients, clinicians and the healthcare system.