This article, titled “Twelve tips for using rapid research methods in health professions education,” provides a practical guide for researchers and decision-makers on adapting Rapid Research Methods (RRM) for studies within health professions education (HPE). Authored by John Sandars and Jeremy Brown, the piece was published in Medical Teacher in 2024.
The authors highlight the increasing need for research findings to be available within a short time-frame (typically less than 3 months) to inform decisions about programs and interventions in HPE. RRM, a broad approach primarily used for qualitative research studies and literature reviews, has gained significant interest over the last two decades as a means to provide timely and useful information for decision-making, particularly during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, but also for healthcare organization and delivery.
A central theme of the article is the pragmatism inherent in RRM, which involves striking a balance between time constraints, available resources, and maintaining an appropriate standard of rigor. The article acknowledges that RRM is not intended to replace traditional, well-designed research but rather offers an adapted approach when timely information is crucial.
The “Twelve Tips” presented offer insights into various stages of the research process when using RRM, including:
- Ensuring the topic is suitable for RRM and meets the audience’s information needs.
- Having a philosophical understanding of RRM, recognizing its pragmatic nature in providing timely information.
- Focusing research questions on the clear expectations of decision-makers.
- Emphasizing the importance of the design phase to align research components and maintain rigor.
- Guidance on conducting rapid literature reviews as a standalone method or integral to study design.
- Strategies for maintaining the rigor of the research, even with time constraints.
- Recommendations for recruiting participants effectively within a short timeframe.
- Approaches for using rapid methods of data collection, such as purposive sampling and achieving “information power”.
- Techniques for rapid data analysis, including structured matrices and iterative processes like RADaR and RITA.
- The crucial aspect of using innovative approaches for presenting and disseminating findings, such as infographics, short reports, podcasts, and personas, to ensure quick assimilation by decision-makers.
- Addressing the need for institutional systems to be responsive to the fast-paced nature of RRM projects.
- Encouraging researchers to become confident in using RRM by understanding its principles and adapting best practices.
Overall, the article serves as a valuable resource for HPE researchers looking to effectively conduct studies under time and resource limitations, while still aiming to produce useful and rigorous findings.
Reference: Sandars, J., & Brown, J. (2024). Twelve tips for using rapid research methods in health professions education. Medical Teacher, 46(12), 1632–1638. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2024.2339415
