Lessons Learned Recruiting Emergency Department Clinicians for an ICT Implementation Science Study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Clinical Informatics
• Psychiatric Care

Background:

• Implementing new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in healthcare settings necessitates strong collaboration between researchers, health system leaders, and clinicians.
• Clinician recruitment for research studies presents significant challenges, primarily due to time constraints and competing clinical demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share lessons learned from a study focused on clinician recruitment for a new ICT implementation in a psychiatric emergency department.
• To provide actionable recommendations for researchers aiming to improve clinician recruitment when introducing novel ICTs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of experiences during a research study in a psychiatric emergency department.
• Development of best practices for clinician engagement and recruitment in technology-focused health research.

Main Results:

• Effective clinician recruitment hinges on demonstrating the value of the ICT and integrating research activities seamlessly into clinical workflows.
• Addressing time constraints through flexible participation options and clear communication is crucial for successful recruitment.

Conclusions:

• Successful implementation of new ICTs in clinical settings requires strategic planning for clinician engagement and recruitment.
• The findings offer valuable insights for researchers designing studies involving technology adoption in high-pressure clinical environments like psychiatric emergency departments.