Building a virtual community of practice: experience from the Canadian foundation for healthcare improvement’s policy circle

Abstract

Background Communities of Practice are formed by people who interact regularly to engage in collective learning in a shared domain of human endeavor. Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP) are online communities that use the internet to connect people who share a common concern or passion. VCoPs provide a platform to share and enhance knowledge. The Policy Circle is a VCoP that connects mid-career professionals from across Canada who are committed to improving healthcare policy and practice. We wanted to understand the perceived value of the VCoP. Methods We used qualitative and quantitative survey research to explore past and current Policy Circle members’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours related to the program. Our research was guided by the Value Creation Framework proposed by Wenger and colleagues. Three surveys were created in collaboration with stakeholders. Data were analyzed within cohort and in aggregate across cohorts. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically, and quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means of ranked and scaled responses). Results Survey participation was high among members (Cohort 1: 67%, Cohort 2: 64%). Participants came from a variety of disciplines including medicine, health policy, allied health, and nursing, with most members having a direct role in health services research or practice. The program was successful in helping participants make connections (mean = 2.43 on a scale from 1 to 5: 1 = yes, significantly, 5 = not at all); variances in both qualitative and quantitative data indicated that levels of enthusiasm within the program varied among individuals. Members appreciated the access to resources; quarterly meetings (n = 11/11), and a curated reading list (n = 8/11) were the most valued resources. Participants reported the development of a sense of belonging (mean = 2.29) and facilitated knowledge exchange (mean = 2.43). At the time of this study, participants felt the program had minor impact on their work (mean = 3.5), however a majority of participants (50%) from Cohort 2 planned to acknowledge the program in their professional or academic endeavours. Through reflective responses, participants expressed a desire for continued and deeper professional network development. Conclusions The Policy Circle was successful in facilitating knowledge exchange by creating a community that promoted trust, a sense of belonging and a supportive environment. Members were satisfied with the program; to promote further value, the Policy Circle should implement strategies that will continue member participation and networking after the program is finished.

The aims and effectiveness of communities of practice in healthcare: A systematic review

“…The most common frequent country that the studies were published in was Canada with 12 studies [ 7 , 16 , 19 , 35 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 54 , 56 ], followed closely by the USA with 10 studies [ 9 , 10 , 14 , 17 , 23 – 25 , 48 , 51 , 55 ], and the UK with 8 studies [ 8 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 18 , 22 , 31 , 37 ]. Other notable contributions came from Australia with 6 studies [ 26 , 29 , 33 , 34 , 44 , 50 ] and Spain with 4 studies [ 20 , 27 , 39 , 42 ].…”

Building a framework to decolonize global emergency medicine

“…These meetings serve as platforms and as a virtual community of practice (a community of people who interact regularly to engage in collective learning in a shared endeavor) to define group priorities in relation to decolonization challenges and to codevelop solutions to those challenges. 17 Numerous discussions and initiatives have been spearheaded this group, all directed toward the decolonization of GEM and associated fields. Initiatives have included more than 10 presentations at national and international EM and global health conferences in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa; grand rounds to medical students, residents, and faculty; a video on perspectives on decolonizing health filmed by medical students around the world; a training module for decolonizing humanitarian aid; multiple manuscripts outlining authorship inequity in GEM, and a toolkit to decolonize EM.…”

“…The working group convenes virtually, aiming to increase awareness of colonial legacies and decolonization within GEM. These meetings serve as platforms and as a virtual community of practice (a community of people who interact regularly to engage in collective learning in a shared endeavor) to define group priorities in relation to decolonization challenges and to codevelop solutions to those challenges 17 . Numerous discussions and initiatives have been spearheaded this group, all directed toward the decolonization of GEM and associated fields.…”

"My dance area - your dance area" - Metaphors of nursing trainee identity in the context of virtual communities of practice

“…To date, few studies can be found in the literature that examine the topic of nursing identity in the context of virtual communities of practice, but rather primarily illuminate identity development in connection with nursing school and nursing practice (Altmeppen, 2022;Bohrer & Walter, 2015;Fischer, 2013). Sibbald, Burnet, Callery, and Mitchell (2022) analyze a virtual community of practice ("Policy Circle") (Sibbald et al, 2022, p. 4), which connects mid-career professionals from health policy and practice, including nurses, across Canada. Using a mixed methods design, the researchers explore the question of what value the aforementioned community holds from the members' perspective (Sibbald et al, 2022, p. 4).…”