Table 1 Health Services Research Doctoral Level Core Competencies and Associated Learning Objective Content Areas
# | Core Competency | Associated Learning Objective Content Areas |
|---|---|---|
1 | Demonstrate breadth of HSR theoretical and conceptual knowledgeby applying alternative models from a range of relevant disciplines. | Biomedicine Economics Epidemiology Informatics Management Sciences Political Science Psychology Sociology Statistics |
2 | Apply in-depth disciplinary knowledge and skillsrelevant to health services research. | Variable depending on the discipline or interdisciplinary area of specialization |
3 | Apply knowledge of the structures, performance, quality, policy, and environmental context of health and health care to formulate solutions for health policy problems. | Access and Use Financing of Health Care Health Health Economics Health Policy Organization of Health Care Quality of Care |
4 | Pose innovative and important health service research questions, informed by systematic reviews of the literature, stakeholder needs, and relevant theoretical and conceptual models. | Scientific Method and Theory Literature Review Proposal Development |
5 | Select appropriate interventional, observational, or qualitative study designsto address specific health services research questions. | Study Design for Interventions Observational Study Design Qualitative Research |
6 | Know how to collect primary health and health care dataobtained by survey, qualitative, or mixed methods. | Survey Research Qualitative Research Primary Data Acquisition and Quality Control |
7 | Know how to assemble secondary datafrom existing public and private sources. | Health Informatics HSR Data Sources Secondary Data Acquisition and Quality Control |
8 | Use conceptual models and operational measuresto specify study constructs for a health services research question and develop variables that reliably and validly measure these constructs. | Measurement Theory and Methods Variable Construction |
9 | Implement research protocolswith standardized procedures that ensure reproducibility of the science. | Research Management |
10 | Ensure the ethical and responsible conduct of researchin the design, implementation, and dissemination of health services research. | Research Ethics |
11 | Work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams. | Teamwork |
12 | Use appropriate analytical methodsto clarify associations between variables and to delineate causal inferences. | Advanced HSR Analytic Methods Advanced Statistics Economic Evaluation Decision Sciences |
13 | Effectively communicate the findings and implications of HSRthrough multiple modalities to technical and lay audiences. | Proposal Development Dissemination |
14 | Understand the importance of collaborating with stakeholders, such as policymakers, organizations, and communities to plan, conduct, and translate health services research into policy and practice. | Community Participatory Research Translating research into practice and policy |