Methods Clusters
Improving Patient Oriented Research
The Methods Clusters study patient-oriented research by bringing together all the people involved in care: researchers, patients, health care providers and health care system decision-makers. Together, we take on research projects to improve our understanding about the best ways of doing patient-oriented research.
Community Driven Priorities
Our projects are driven by the communities they matter to. Our stakeholders identified six areas where more methodology research was most important to them. These areas became the six Methods Clusters. Each cluster worked with their communities to develop specific research themes relevant to their work.
Studying and Doing
All Methods Clusters projects are patient-oriented research projects. We study patient-oriented research, by doing patient-oriented research.
Latest Updates
Methods Matters Webinars
“Methods Matters” is a new monthly webinar series from the Unit's Methods Clusters to showcase emerging research in patient-oriented research methods. Hear from Methods Cluster project teams throughout BC who are doing patient-oriented research while studying patient-oriented research!
We are excited to announce the first Methods Matter webinar of the series, Using Natural Language Processing and Social Media Listening in Patient-Oriented Research, presented by Dr. Nick Dragojlovic and Dr. Larry Lynd.
Plain Language Guide
At the BC SUPPORT Unit, we’re serious about accessibility, and that starts with our words. Research can be so full of jargon that it prevents many audiences that we care about from truly engaging with the work. This interactive practical guide to plain language walks you through the process in plain language, providing tools, resources, and best practices to shape more clear, concise and accessible writing.
Are you ready to write?
Methods Section Blog
"Patients, those with lived experience, are the best judges of their welfare, period. And so, their voices must be heard; and, make an impact in health research."
BC Academic Health Science Network President, and the Methods Clusters' first Scientific Director, Dr. Stirling Bryan, writes on how his health economist training took him deep into patient-oriented research methods.
Citizen Science Launch
The Citizen Science Project has created a new portal to let the public share self-reported health data to generate patient-oriented research questions. As a Citizen Scientist for this project, participants will join forces with health scientists in British Columbia by providing information about their experience living with pain.
Inside the Clusters
The Real-World Clinical Trials Cluster works to build capacity and foster methodological development in the field of clinical trials. The goal of the Cluster is to address the needs of diverse real-world populations and individual patient priorities, while working to make clinical trials more feasible and efficient in real-world settings.
DaSHI aims to advance patient-oriented research methods by using data science and health informatics methods to improve healthcare processes and patient-reported outcomes.
Patient Engagement is focused on advancing the ways patients can be involved in health research. This cluster aims to deepen our understanding and lead the way with provincially-focused methods that foster meaningful and active collaboration between health care researchers, providers and patients.
The Health Economics and Simulation Modelling methods cluster undertakes projects to understand how decisions are made in healthcare and how research funds can be spent on issues that matter to patients.
The Knowledge Translation and Implementation Science Methods Cluster works with the broad range of activities, methods, and scientific evidence that promotes the uptake of health research findings into routine healthcare practice. Together, this cluster studies methods that will help close the gaps between knowledge and practice in the context of patient-oriented research.
The Patient-Centred Measurement methods cluster aims to understand what matters most to patients by collecting information on their experiences and outcomes. Through collecting, reporting and incorporating these metrics into research and services, patients and families are able to have an impact on the quality of care that they receive.
The Methods Section
The #1 question we get about the Methods Clusters is “What are the Methods Clusters?” We're bringing you answers to this and more in our new blog: The Methods Section. We’re looking forward to peeling back the curtain a little to share with you perspectives from individuals involved in The Methods Clusters.
