Research
Since 2006, the CSMLS has made a commitment to conduct and facilitate health services research about the medical laboratory profession. This research stemmed from the pressing issues within the health care system, such as the human resources concerns, that were not being addressed with traditional academic research. This gap in profession-specific data has now been highlighted and with the help of external funding, CSMLS has made strides in addressing the issues specific to the medical laboratory profession in Canada.
The goals of the research program include:
- creation of a research database and resource-sharing strategies;
- establishment of research networks, partnerships and support/mentoring mechanisms;
- implementation of research projects and broad dissemination of findings;
- adherence to high standards for ethical conduct of research and program accountability;
- gathering data and creating knowledge that inform decision-making about health human resources issues and thereby contribute to high quality health care in Canada;
- adoption and promotion of knowledge translation strategies.
For further information, please contact the CSMLS Executive Director.
Research Ethics Review Process
Many of the projects undertaken by the CSMLS in the past have involved institutional document and data analysis and have not required ethical review. More recently, the occasional CSMLS projects involving clear researcher/subject relationships with human participants have made use of ad hoc ethics review processes. With the adoption of its specific research mandate, the CSMLS acknowledges the need for formal ethics review policies and protocols to demonstrate its commitment to research ethics and integrity.
The CSMLS seeks to conduct and facilitate research in accordance with accepted Canadian practices as laid out in the Tri-Council Policy Statement. The CSMLS document "CSMLS Guidelines for Research Involving Human Subjects" has been created to communicate research ethics policies, practices, and guidelines to CSMLS researchers, Research Ethics Board (REB) members, and interested observers. It is intended to ensure that research carried out by the CSMLS meets the high ethical standards maintained by academic research institutions in Canada, and has been developed in compliance with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Human Subjects (TCPS).
Current Research
In addition to its internal information-gathering and dissemination strategies, the CSMLS is currently conducting the following externally-funded research projects:
- Online self-assessment tool for PLA readiness of internationally educated medical laboratory technologists – Government of Canada
- Assessing the workforce integration of internationally educated health professionals – Government of Canada
- Peer support networks for internationally educated medical laboratory technologists: A needs assessment
Reports for Past Research