Starting, building and sustaining a program of research in emergency medicine in Canada

Objective To develop pragmatic recommendations for starting, building and sustaining a program of research in emergency medicine (EM) in Canada at sites with limited infrastructure and/or prior research experience. Methods At the direction of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) academic section, we assembled an expert panel of 10 EM researchers with experience building programs of research. Using a modified Delphi approach, our panel developed initial recommendations for (1) starting, (2) building, and (3) sustaining a program of research in EM. These recommendations were peer-reviewed by emergency physicians and researchers from each of the panelist's home institutions and tested for face and construct validity, as well as ease of comprehension. The recommendations were then iteratively revised based on feedback and suggestions from peer review and amended again after being presented at the 2020 CAEP academic symposium. Results Our panel created 15 pragmatic recommendations for those intending to start (formal research training, find mentors, local support, develop a niche, start small), build (funding, build a team, collaborate, publish, expect failure) and sustain (become a mentor, obtain leadership roles, lead national studies, gain influence, prioritize wellness) a program of EM research in centers without an established research culture. Additionally, we suggest four recommendations for department leads aiming to foster a program of research within their departments. Conclusion These recommendations serve as guidance for centres wanting to establish a program of research in EM.

Automated summary

This study developed practical recommendations for starting, building and sustaining a research program in emergency medicine in Canada with limited infrastructure and/or research experience. The recommendations cover how to start, build and sustain a research program in emergency medicine, providing 15 pragmatic suggestions for centers without an established research culture, as well as four recommendations for department leads aiming to foster a research program within their departments.