Mapping Health Professions Education: Using Complexity Science to Make Sense of Learning Through Electronic Consultations

Phenomena studied within health professions education are often complex and multifaceted. This article describes a complexity science–informed theoretical framework that was developed for exploring how electronic consultations support learning among primary care providers, as well as within the larger organizations or systems in which they practice. This framework enables researchers to investigate learning occurring simultaneously at multiple levels (including individuals and social groups), without simplistically conflating levels or theories. The various levels of learning and associated theories are illustrated using examples from electronic consultations. This complexity science–inspired framework can be used for studying learning in complex, multilayered systems.