Background
All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), in partnership with the Irish Association for Palliative Care, propose to establish an Early Career Researcher Forum in palliative care on the island of Ireland. The Forum will be situated within AIIHPC’s Palliative Care Research Network (P.C.R.N.)[1] and will develop links over time with the European Association of Palliative Care’s (EAPC) Junior Forum.
It is envisaged that the Early Career Researcher Forum will provide members with valuable opportunities to:
- Share knowledge, skills and experience in research;
- Access peer support and develop new and existing relationships;
- Participate in learning and knowledge transfer activities;
- Develop links with senior researchers in palliative care;
- Benefit from access to national and international researchers in palliative care;
- Develop links with similar EAPC structures.
Exploratory event
An exploratory half day event was held on 13th June in order to assess the level of interest in establishing an Early Career Researcher Forum. Forty one people from a range of backgrounds including nursing, medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, education, and chaplaincy attended. Professor Sheila Payne (Director, International End of Life Observatory, Lancaster University) was the keynote speaker with other speakers being Dr Margaret Clifford (IAPC Chairperson) and Dr Sonja McIlfatrick (AIIHPC Head of Research). During the event, participants were asked to respond to some keyquestions including:
Motivations & expectations:
- What are your expectations for the day?
- What motivated you to attend?
- Why are you interested in becoming a member of an Early Career Researcher Forum in palliative care?
Group work
- Why might an Early Career Researcher Forum be important?
- What has the Forum the potential to achieve that other Forums might not be in a position to do?
- What would you like the Forum to become?
- What would you like the Forum not to become?
- How might the Forum achieve its goals?
- What are the potential challenges/ barriers to sustaining a Forum like this?
- What should the Forum be cautious about not doing?
- How accessible should the Forum be?
- What is the best way to communicate with Forum members? What should be considered?
- What type of activities should the Forum develop/ participate in/be associated with?
- How often should a Forum like this one meet?
- What can you meaningfully contribute to the Forum?
Substantial feedback was gathered throughout the day and what follows now is a synopsis of the event.
‘Reflections on developing a research career’
Professor Sheila Payne
- Choosing a university for palliative care research
- Look at the university’s website and examine their track record in terms of scholarship, research output, etc
- Consider the type of resources available via specific supervisors
- Sign up to any methodological courses; philosophy of science courses, and similar
- May not see the relevance of some courses but it is important to participate in specific courses if your supervisor advises
- Networking – hugely important
- Academic writing – doesn’t come naturally but all about practice
- Consider
- Learning a language(s) and working internationally
- Learning to take praise and accept the constructive feedback
- Learning to be an analytical consumer of research
- Conferences
- Be selective in terms of attending conferences
- Talk to high profile presenters e.g. email them beforehand to meet up
- Attend meetings and other networking opportunities
- Talk to people during poster sessions
- Don’t be disappointed if your abstract is accepted as a poster – a great deal of effort goes into a poster
- Viva
- May vary across countries
- External examiner does not seek to pick holes in your research but to have an academic discussion
- EAPC research opportunities
- Early Career Researcher Awards x 3 annually ( Closing date 30th November 2013. Assessed on publications, track record in research;usually nominated.
- 8th World Research Congress of the EAPC (5th – 7th June 2014).
(Slides attached separately)
1
- What are your expectations for the day?
Key themes
Network / Develop knowledge / awareness / Establish a forum
- Networking
- Meet others undertaking PhD projects
- Meet others in a similar situation
- Hoping to make new contacts
- Networking/peer support/meeting new people
- Meet like-minded people
- Networking/support
- Network with other PhD students
- Forming new connections
- Meet others undertaking research in this area
- Network and meet other researchers, to hear what is going on, to be inspired
- Meet people interested in research and make new contacts in this area
- Meet similar researchers/network
- Network with broad range of people across the Island
- Meet other people with similar research interests to me
- Network with other like-minded people
- Access peer support
- To create links with other palliative care professionals throughout Ireland
- Learn a little about the lifestyle /the nature of the PhD lifestyle – how to survive when there is potential for isolation
- [Identify] the support available and relevant to my own research interests
- How to start
- What this forum can offer in terms of support - PhD
- Leave with some ideas of now I can future develop my research
- Tips for starting research projects in this area
- Ideas as to how to develop research career
- A chance to learn from others
- Insight into interdisciplinary research
- What is happening in this area of research as new to the field
- Becoming aware of other palliative care research in Ireland
- Gain knowledge on support services available
- Gain an insight into the research on-going at the moment
- Learn more about the palliative care research being carried out in Ireland
- Other PhD projects
- Current research which is being undertaken
- Learn more about research in palliative care
- The work of AIIHPC.
- Hear what is going on in palliative care research in Ireland and to connect with others who may be working in a similar area to me
- Learn more about the type of research being undertaken in palliative care
- Identifying potential funding strands
- Get ideas hear about what research is being done in palliative care
- Get a sense of the areas of palliative care that need to be explored
- Gain a wider understanding of the research context in Ireland
- Agreed vision of forum
- Keen interest in building capacity in PC research
- To expand on how a forum would/could work
- Starting point for joining the forum
- Understand the role of Forum
- Generate ideas about how this is more forward
- What motivated you to attend?
Key themes
Network / Develop knowledge/ awareness / Learning & sharing with others / Sense of belonging / Identify opportunities
- Meet new people – networking
- Meeting others interested in this area
- Possibility of engaging with individuals with similar interests
- To meet other researchers
- The opportunity to meet others in a similar network
- Meet researchers with various levels of experience
- Make contacts
- Opportunity to meet other colleagues interested in or doing palliative research
- Networking – building relationships with other researchers
- To meet like-minded professionals and make research links
- Meeting health professionals interested in palliative research
- Meeting researchers with similar interests in methodology/
- Chance to network with colleagues beginning the research journey
- Being aware of research being done in palliative care
- Interest in the this area/clinical/education
- Interested as part of my role in palliative care
- Have a passion for palliative care and want to further develop in this area. Want to add to research with the aim of improving people’s life and experiences with end of life – I want to make a difference!
- Curious to see what it is about
- Learn more about palliative care research
- Learn from others – explore similar issues
- Learn about other researchers work
- Opportunity to learn from others and share my experiences
- Sharing of information
- Learning about current research
- [Learning from the] experiences of others undertaking research
- Intro to research in palliative care – getting started (how to!)
- Undertaking a PhD in nursing leadership in community nursing services
- Similar values in relation to research
- To encourage early researchers within my service
- To be part of a palliative care research group
- Liked the idea of becoming part of a forum
- New to the research world so I felt this forum would help
- Interested in the fact that this group is being established
- Interested in becoming part of a “community of practice” in palliative care
- Partnership
- Will this forum link with International research for and facilitate collaboration?
- Ideas for research opportunities
- Ideas for gaps in children’s palliative care – future research areas
- Ideas for development of post-doc career
- Ideas/access to training workshop
- To develop research ideas and be inspired
- Interest in this area and opportunities for future research
- I am keen to find out more about what is going on in this area and report back to our group.
- Why are you interested in becoming a member of an Early Career Researcher Forum in palliative care?
Learning & sharing with others (information, advice, expertise, knowledge, skills) / Accessing support / Potential networking / collaboration opportunities / Sense of belonging
- Sharing of information
- Ideas, networking and sense of strategic direction
- Want to know what other research projects are taking place on the Island
- Gain an insight into on-going research
- Share ideas around research and to share workload rather than overlap
- Learn from others
- Learn how to improve research skills
- Want to improve my knowledge and skills in palliative care
- To contribute to and benefit from the sharing of information and resources in this area
- How to become a researcher?
- How to develop my research by learning about what others are doing
- Being part of a supportive group of researchers willing to share expertise
- Scope to share information about important links
- Hear other peoples experiences
- Advice from more experienced researchers
- Work in the area of intellectual disabilities and hope to share my knowledge of working with people who have an idea
- Support from others
- Support
- An opportunity to support and be supported.
- Feel less isolated
- Gain support and advice from experienced and novice researchers in palliative care in Ireland
- Increase scope for collaborative all Ireland research opportunities and access to support and expertise
- Fostering collaborative links
- Link with other PhD students
- Link with others working in the area
- Share information and to be part of a wider research community
- Meet like-minded people interested in developing research skills
- Networking with like-minded people
- Collaboration will help us to share ideas and enhance opportunities
- Good to get in at the grassroots to help steer the forum within a multidisciplinary framework
- Would like to be involved in this forum as undertaking a research study in palliative care
- Belong to a professional body
- Interested in becoming a member of this forum and it would be good to find out if others are working in an area relevant to our particular research area
- Have an interest in carrying out piece of research within my organisation
- Could assist with opening more doors; safety in numbers; to develop a critical mass and for future developments in palliative care
- To be part of a forum which facilitates working and development of postdoctoral training/ further research activities
- Like to contribute to palliative care research in Ireland
1
GROUP WORK
Participants were randomly split into groups and the following responses noted.
- Why might an Early Career Researcher Forum be important?
Networking & collaboration
- Local networking
- Collaboration
- Networking/meeting new people
- Prevent isolation
- Shared interest in Palliative Care
- Learning from each other
- [Having a] skills mix
- A safe place to share your ideas with others and get feedback
- To share top tips
- Good to have a hub space for sharing information about grants and funding opportunities
- Gain information on issues relevant to research here
- Practice – based research
- A place for experienced researchers to pitch research ideas/topics
- Generating ideas
- Prevent duplication
- What has the Forum the potential to achieve that other Forums might not be in a position to do?
Develop research topics & ideas
- Generation of research topics and issues and successful methodologies
- Support training e.g. research skills, grant writing etc
- Stimulating [research in palliative care]
- What happens next – post doc?
- Potential for collaboration
- Opportunity to link with other professionals in the area with similar experiences of emotional issues that arise, particular around death and dying
- Impact of different skill mix
- Peer support – “emotional rollercoaster”
- Specificity – learning from other researchers in the area
- What would you like the Forum to become?
Strategy & governance
- Strong working group
- Terms of reference, explicit strategy but room to grow, a sense of direction
- Making international links
- [Links with] other countries
- Workshops, speakers, training events
- Dissemination
- Avoidance of duplication
- Benchmarks
- Easily accessible but not too time demanding
- What would you like the Forum not to become?
Too focused
- Not a PhD support group
- Shouldn’t be just for people on a research degree journey
- Don’t want a mono-disciplinary forum
- No development from early stage researcher status
- No goals or output
- Not to stagnate
- Don’t want a series of meetings where nothing is shared.
- Shouldn’t feel compelled to attend each meeting
- Not necessarily face-to-face
- How might the Forum achieve its goals?
Governance structure/ processes/ vision
- Chairperson/Moderator (Professional Co-ordinator)
- Funded [coordinator]
- Preplanning
- Define goals clearly
- Clear goals – disseminate and reiterate goals
- Consider common methodological focus
- List of names and contact details/speciality/area of interest/names of on-going research/PhD – networking
- Links to other relevant organisational, opportunities and funding organisations
- Collaboration with like-minded forums e.g. Education and Research blog in IAPC
- Everybody declare their main area of interest
- Regular communication/style – bogs etc (accessibility)
- Communication methods e.g. blog
- Commitment by members e.g. contribution to website etc.
- Willingness to contribute i.e. a working forum
- Profile of the AIIHPC/IAPC Forum and advertising
- Accessibility
- What are the potential challenges/ barriers to sustaining a Forum like this?
Timing, location, funding & other resources
- Time to engage in the work of the forum
- Geography
- Funding
- Lack of clarity as to what is required by clinicians and PhDs – because it appears goal posts change e.g. funding required
- Needs a moderator
- Offering attractive opportunities and activities
- Different disciplines working in different areas of interest
- How to be relevant to everybody?
- Commitment
- Awareness of what is on
- Perceptions – challenge by profile and awareness in other groups e.g. young people’s organisation
- Linking clinical and academics to identify ideal and provide ownership from clinical staff who are interested in research
- What should the Forum be cautious about not doing?
IPR issues
- Protecting individuals – “ grant stealing potential”
- Academic Competition! = Intellectual property
- Not following through
- Not be too ambitious – keep clear goals.
- Over reach
- Burning out too soon
- Make sure there is a plan/direction
- Make sure there is clearly communicated agenda
- How accessible should the Forum be?
Accessibility
- Who will be running/housing the forum i.e. who do we access?
- Open accessibility
- Needs to address all levels of research experience
- Venue(s)
- Needs to vary depending on the actual aim i.e. aim drives venue/accessibility, streamlined layered
- Determine who can access and why
- Membership –Clinicians? Research? Working? Education?
- Criteria for membership and levels of membership e.g. general enquiry, research active
- Contribution
- Interest in Res.
- Specific Interest
- What is the best way to communicate with Forum members? What should be considered?
Communication
- Route: blog, internet, discussion forums.
- Face-to-face and virtual methods
- Email alerts
- Social Media – Facebook, twitter
- General director
- Links to key contacts
- What type of activities should the Forum develop/ participate in/be associated with?
Organisations
- IAPC – Annual meeting; forum – multidisciplinary
- Methodological & ethical issues
- Bring expertise to disseminate
- Podcasts
- Tools of the trade
- Map the [research] process
- Templates
- Infrastructure
- Buddy/mentor
- Skills set
- Database of grants
- How often should a Forum like this one meet?
- Annual meeting – day event
- Podcast
- E-learning - infrastructure and skills for that
- Breakout groups – key personnel to facilitate
- What can you meaningfully contribute to the Forum?
- Charts
- Time management
- Organisation skills
- Troubleshoot relations
- Supervisors
- Difference of opinion
- Directing people to helpful tools
- People completing, completed PhD and beyond
- Mentorship of more junior researchers
- Mentorship of post docs
- Evidence based practice
Reflections/ closing remarks
Dr McIlfatrick reflected on some of the key discussion points. In general, there was consensus around the benefits of establishing an Early Career Researcher Forum including helping to build research capacity; providing networking opportunities; and the potential to contribute to the growth of palliative care research on the island of Ireland. Whether the Forum is a virtual, face-to-face or combined entity has yet to be decided. Developing and enhancing mentorship and/or leadership opportunities for individuals at the postdoctoral stage was also raised as were other ideas.