Table 1 Considerations for a self-study of a patient/public-oriented research team studying KT/implementation science methods

Why should a research team undertake a self-study?

 To explore members’ individual and collective experience

 To engage in individual and collective reflection

 To address a goal of quality improvement with the ability to gain knowledge, principles or theory

When to undertake a self-study?

 Readiness to engage with patients and the public as co-researchers

 Readiness to have enhanced awareness of team needs and greater sensitivity and communication among team members

 Readiness to explore how the team can work through common, potentially challenging issues and willingness to act on the findings and insights

 Ability to adjust team approaches to meet the KT/implementation science methods research goals while supporting team members

Which approach?

 Collaborative action research, or another approach that allows for iterative processes of exploration and self-reflection

What process?

 The process is collaboratively determined and may include:

   Individual interviews

   Analysis of interviews and identification of findings that may be themed

   Reflective discussion of findings with research team

   Team decisions about action to take about any findings or insights

   Analysis of team discussion and/or potential interviews

   Further theme development through joint reflection with team members

   Action with team members and others on themes and overall findings

How to implement a self-study?

 Start conversations and planning for the self-study early among team members, with sensitivity to power relationships within research teams

 Involve team members in decision-making about the self-study, including the implementation/interpretation of data, discussions of reporting and deciding who have access to the data

 Clarify ethical issues; tools such as the A Project Ethics Community Consensus Initiative Screening Tool (https://arecci.albertainnovates.ca) can be useful

 Engage with team members with qualitative methodological expertise

 Involve interviewers from outside of the team to conduct interviews and directed reflections to allow for openness and anonymity/ confidentiality

 Consider specific needs of patient/public members re interviews and/or separate reflective discussions

 Consider who should see raw data or only themed, anonymized data

 Create opportunities for discussions among the team that may bring out new understandings

 Consider that action may happen in the near or distant future. Action may take the form of activities, developing new skills, using and sharing new concepts and/or influencing change. Action may also be a conscious team decision to not take specific actions, but to work with greater understanding