Research

Our research is focused on improving the quality and safety of patient care. Quality health services should be:

• Effective – providing evidence-based healthcare services to those who need them.
• Safe – avoiding harm to people for whom the care is intended.
• People-centred – providing care that responds to individual preferences, needs and values.
• Timely – reducing waiting times and sometimes harmful delays.
• Equitable – providing care that does not vary in quality on account of gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socio-economic status.
• Efficient – maximising the benefit of available resources and avoiding waste.

Innovation in medical education and practice

Our research under this theme focuses on the evaluation of modern and innovative medical education teaching methodologies. We carry out research that is about simulation (the focus is on the effectiveness of simulation-based education approaches), as well as research through simulation (the use of simulation as a tool to complete research on quality and patient safety).

Example project: Precision teaching and fluency training for core procedural skills.

Engaging patients for quality and safety improvement

Patients have unique insights into quality and safety of care that may differ from that of healthcare providers. Patients ‘see’ aspects of care that may not be seen by healthcare workers (e.g. issues in transitions in care or upon discharge), or have different opinions on what quality of care may mean. Therefore, our research under this theme aims to capitalise on patients' unique insights into quality of care to inform quality and safety improvement efforts.

Example project: Learning from healthcare complaints to improve quality of care.

Addressing quality and safety across the healthcare system

A systems approach is require to improve quality and safety in healthcare. A systems approach recognises that changes in an organisation require the consideration of a range of factors interacting at different levels: patient/service user; the work environment; individual healthcare worker; healthcare teams, organisation and management; and society, culture and regulatory influences. Our research under this theme considers the healthcare system when addressing quality and safety issues and to improve the quality of care.

Example project: Hand hygiene in ICU.

Improving Healthcare worker’s wellbeing and working conditions  

Addressing the welfare of healthcare workers is critical in improving the overall quality of care and safety in healthcare. Healthcare worker’s working conditions and wellbeing can influence various factors, such as recruitment and retention rates, that are key for a well-functioning healthcare system. Our research under this theme focuses on how to improve healthcare worker’s experiences, both professionally and personally, to ensure a high standard of care and to tackle quality and safety issues.     

Example project: Medicine and Motherhood