Supporting learning health systems through patient-oriented practice-based research: A provincial collaboration

Abstract

Learning health systems are promoted as solutions in Canada to bridge the disconnect between research and care delivery by integrating applied research and evidence supports within healthcare. Patients and clinicians see and experience healthcare system gaps and are therefore uniquely positioned as co-producers and partners in research to advance learning health systems. Practice-based research programs provide point-of-care healthcare professionals with training, mentorship, and nominal seed funding to conduct small research projects in their clinical contexts to address gaps in practice and care. Patient-oriented research engages patients, caregivers, and family with lived experience as partners in the process of identifying gaps, generating knowledge, and applying evidence to inform healthcare delivery. This article describes the benefits gained from unifying patient-oriented research programs in British Columbia, Canada, under a provincial collaboration to standardize practice and advance collective priorities, including the foundation to cultivate and support learning health systems transformation.