Twelve tips for supervisors to move towards person-centered research supervision in health care sciences

Abstract

The research supervisory role is becoming increasingly complex due to issues such as diversity of students; mismatched expectations between the student, supervisor and higher education institution and shorter and specific time-bound research outcomes. The current postgraduate research supervision culture and supervision practices should change. Moving towards person-centered research supervision practices may enhance the research environment, as healthful relationships between supervisors and postgraduate students may lead to increased postgraduate research outcomes. Using a World Café, we critically reflected on our existing research supervision practices. All healthcare educators involved in postgraduate research supervision were purposively selected to participate. During the café, we explored and shared ideas in a safe space. Twelve tips emerged, which can be implemented to move existing supervision practices towards person-centered research supervision practices. We present these twelve tips from the perspective of the four constructs of person-centeredness as outlined by McCormack and McCance - pre-requisites, environment, process, and outcomes. The use of these tips may enable both supervisors and students to flourish. Avoiding routine, ritual supervision practices and embracing person-centredness, will enable supervisors to form healthful relationships and put the postgraduate student at the heart of our supervision practices.

Notes

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Notes

1 A healthful relationship is one in which there is mutual respect and understanding and a focus on nurturing growth and development through respectful engagement.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tanya Heyns

Tanya Heyns, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Nursing Sciences with interests in person-centered care in emergency and critical care.

Philippa Bresser

Philippa Bresser, MRad, is a lecturer and coordinator for nuclear medicine in the Department of Radiography and a novice supervisor.

Tania Buys

Tania Buys is a lecturer in Occupation Therapy with special interest in vocational rehabilitation and disability equity legislation.

Isabel Coetzee

Isabel Coetzee, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Nursing Sciences with interests in person-centered care in emergency and critical care.

Elzette Korkie

Elzette Korkie, PhD, is a lecturer and undergraduate program manager in the Department of Physiotherapy with special interest in movement analysis, sport and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Zelda White

Zelda White, PhD, is a lecturer in the Human Nutrition Department. Zelda is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate research programs in the Department with her research focus area being nutrition in the life cycle.

All authors are currently supervising postgraduate students.

Brendan Mc Cormack

Brendan Mc Cormack, PhD, is the Head of Division of Nursing and the associate director for the Centre for Person-centered Practice at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh as well as an extraordinary professor in the Department of Nursing Sciences. Brendan is a seasoned supervisor with internationally recognized work in person-centered practice development and research.