Developing the Workplace Learning Social System: considerations for genomics implementation and workforce preparedness

Innovations, such as genomics, are expected to transform the practice of the healthcare workforce. Workplace learning is an established and fundamental component of healthcare workforce training. We propose that it can be leveraged to facilitate workforce preparedness to adopt innovations relevant to practice. To explore this, this study aimed to develop a workplace learning framework premised on primary literature. Four databases were systematically searched to identify and synthesize contemporary research articles investigating doctors’ workplace learning, with an additional focus on genetics/genomics. From the articles included, factors influencing workplace learning were extracted. Informed by structuration and workplace learning theories, thematic analysis was conducted on these factors to generate the framework. Despite the lack of articles on doctors’ genetics/genomics workplace learning, 50 articles on doctors’ workplace learning were included. Extracted influencing factors were synthesized into five major domains, across three social system levels and the agentic learner, to generate the Workplace Learning Social System framework. Innovations in healthcare require its workforce to change work practices. The Workplace Learning Social System framework holistically conceptualizes workplace learning based on contemporary literature. It provides pragmatic insights to inform workforce development when implementing innovations as part of system-wide change.