Symposium: Participatory Action Research In Corrections: Individual And Organizational Factors Affecting Health Behavior And Employee Well-being

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Cherniack ◽  
Alicia Dugan ◽  
Diana Tubbs ◽  
Courtney Pfeifer ◽  
Jeffrey Hanrahan
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Factors Affecting

“Different but connected”: Participatory action research using Photovoice to explore well-being in autistic young adults

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1246-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Yu Hin Lam ◽  
Emily Holden ◽  
Megan Fitzpatrick ◽  
Linda Raffaele Mendez ◽  
Karen Berkman
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
School Transition ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Transition Program ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Autistic Community

Past research has largely focused on the negative aspects of well-being of autistic young adults during the post-school transition. Research that meaningfully includes autistic individuals and captures their perspectives of positive well-being is essential for stakeholders to better understand how to provide services that respond to the needs and wants of the autistic community. In the current study, 14 autistic young adults in a post-school transition program participated in a Photovoice project and used photos to express their ideas about well-being. A participatory action research approach was used to support participants’ active engagement in the research processes and to encourage meaningful expression of their first-person perspectives. Results revealed an account of well-being reflecting expressions of individuality and growth, the significance of having close relationships, and a sense of connection with the community. This study has implications for research and practice that promotes well-being among the autistic community using approaches that are ethically informed and inclusive of autistic voices. Lay abstract Past research has mainly focused on autistic people’s deficits and poor outcomes compared to other groups of people. Little is known about their positive life experiences, and how to support them to achieve a higher quality of life. It is important to include autistic individuals in research so that they can influence how their voices are represented in a meaningful way and how the research results will be useful to them. In this study, a university researcher collaborated with 14 autistic young adults in a post-school transition program to design and run the research, collect and analyze the data, and use the results to create a presentation to the community. Specifically, the participants took photos in daily life and discussed their ideas about what a good life means to them. Results showed that these young adults described themselves as uniquely and different, but they were eager to learn and adapt. They also valued their relationships with their families, friends, and animals around them, as well as the community at large. This research shows that autistic individuals have important perspectives to share and knowledge to contribute when they are given the opportunities to participate in different aspects of research. The findings will be useful in developing services and influencing policies that promote well-being among autistic adults.

scholarly journals Evaluating the effectiveness of care coordination interventions designed and implemented through a participatory action research process: Lessons learned from a quasi-experimental study in public healthcare networks in Latin America

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0261604
Author(s):  
María-Luisa Vázquez ◽  
Andrea Miranda-Mendizabal ◽  
Pamela Eguiguren ◽  
Amparo-Susana Mogollón-Pérez ◽  
Marina Ferreira-de-Medeiros-Mendes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Intermediate Outcomes ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Background Despite increasing recommendations for health professionals to participate in intervention design and implementation to effect changes in clinical practice, little is known about this strategy’s effectiveness. This study analyses the effectiveness of interventions designed and implemented through participatory action research (PAR) processes in healthcare networks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay to improve clinical coordination across care levels, and offers recommendations for future research. Methods The study was quasi-experimental. Two comparable networks, one intervention (IN) and one control (CN), were selected in each country. Baseline (2015) and evaluation (2017) surveys of a sample of primary and secondary care doctors (174 doctors/network/year) were conducted using the COORDENA® questionnaire. Most of the interventions chosen were based on joint meetings, promoting cross-level clinical agreement and communication for patient follow-up. Outcome variables were: a) intermediate: interactional and organizational factors; b) distal: experience of cross-level clinical information coordination, of clinical management coordination and general perception of coordination between levels. Poisson regression models were estimated. Results A statistically significant increase in some of the interactional factors (intermediate outcomes) -knowing each other personally and mutual trust- was observed in Brazil and Chile INs; and in some organizational factors -institutional support- in Colombia and Mexico. Compared to CNs in 2017, INs of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico showed significant differences in some factors. In distal outcomes, care consistency items improved in Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay INs; and patient follow-up improved in Chile and Mexico. General perception of clinical coordination increased in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico INs. Compared to CNs in 2017, only Brazil showed significant differences. Conclusions Although more research is needed, results show that PAR-based interventions improved some outcomes regarding clinical coordination at network level, with differences between countries. However, a PAR process is, by definition, slow and gradual, and longer implementation periods are needed to achieve greater penetration and quantifiable changes. The participatory and flexible nature of interventions developed through PAR processes poses methodological challenges (such as defining outcomes or allocating individuals to different groups in advance), and requires a comprehensive mixed-methods approach that simultaneously evaluates effectiveness and the implementation process to better understand its outcomes.

scholarly journals University–Community Partnerships Using a Participatory Action Research Model to Evaluate the Impact of Dance for Health

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahshida Atkins ◽  
Janet Deatrick ◽  
Cory Bowman ◽  
Ansley Bolick ◽  
Ian McCurry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Little is known about fostering sustainable, collaborative community-academic partnerships that effectively improve physical activity and health in residents of under resourced communities using Participatory Action Research (PAR) driven models. The purpose of this PAR study was to evaluate the impact of an urban, intergenerational, and physical activity dance program by identifying community preferred measurable outcomes that promote program participation and sustainability. A descriptive, qualitative design was employed using semi-structured interview guides to facilitate discussions for two adult focus groups and one youth focus group. Exactly 19 community-residing adults and six youth who lived in urban neighborhoods in West Philadelphia participated in the discussions. The audiotapes were transcribed and analyzed using directed content analysis. Five outcome themes emerged and included: (1). Enhancing the psychological and emotional well-being of the individual, (2). Enhancement of social well-being and management of interpersonal relationships and responsibilities (3). Enhancing and promoting physiologic well-being (4). Changes in health promoting behaviors and skill acquisition, and (5). Concerns about accessibility of dance for health and other physical activity programs in the community. Focused attention to measuring community preferred outcomes can promote sustainability of Dance for Health and possibly other urban-based physical activity dance programs.

scholarly journals Using Youth Participatory Action Research as a Health Intervention in Community Settings

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Lindquist-Grantz ◽  
Michelle Abraczinskas
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Youth Participatory Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Based

Youth participatory action research (YPAR) emphasizes positive youth development by engaging young people as co-researchers and change agents on complex issues to produce solutions that are relevant to youth. YPAR has primarily been used in classroom and youth organization settings, which means there are very few examples of its usage in other community-based settings or as a health intervention approach. Additionally, there is a need for further study of YPAR implementation processes and the effect on youth development and well-being outcomes. In this article, we highlight the innovative use of YPAR as a community-based health intervention through two case studies in which the adolescent health issues of physical activity and suicide were addressed. We describe the design of each YPAR health intervention and the studies that were conducted to link participatory research processes to youth development and health outcomes. Using the lessons learned from these YPAR interventions, we propose best practices for the design, implementation, and evaluation of YPAR as a health intervention strategy in a community setting.

scholarly journals Feeling Valued and Adding Value: A Participatory Action Research Project on Co-creating Practices of Social Inclusion in Kindergartens and Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina von Heimburg ◽  
Susanne Vollan Langås ◽  
Borgunn Ytterhus
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Contemporary public health problems connect to the social determinants of health, with a growing recognition of social inclusion as imperative to sustainable development. In this quest for social inclusion, early childhood and families are of particular interest. Although co-creation is suggested as viable path to support well-being, less is known how social inclusion might be co-created in practice. The aim of this study was to explore how Participatory Action Research (PAR) can be a tool for transformative practices in a local community, pointing to kindergartens as meeting places for recognizing social inclusion as a common value in early childhood.Methods: A qualitative PAR study was embedded in a Norwegian municipality as an integrated part of their local public health work. The study involved a wide range of participants and stakeholders in three kindergartens and the wider community. Together, we explored potentials for co-creating social inclusion to achieve well-being through cycles of transformative actions and reflections. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to generate patterns and themes in the data.Results: The participants formulated and took on ownership to an inclusive agenda through the PAR-process. Acts of inclusion was framed by an intersection between political aims of achieving health and well-being for all and public value co-creation unfolding at the level of the place, in the context of the Norwegian welfare regime. To feel valued and adding value was seen as important aspects for social inclusion. Four themes were generated from analysis; (1) Co-creating a shared vision of inclusive communities, (2) Becoming aware and empowered through caring, sharing and collaboration, (3) Places and spaces of inclusiveness in kindergartens and beyond, and (4) Valuing and practicing inclusion, and signs of transformative change.Conclusions: Through the PAR process, parents, kindergartens employees, community members and policy makers appear to have opened a creative toolbox for inclusive and transformational change through formulating and co-creating inclusion and well-being as public values. The results suggest that local actors might support adaptive social systems to taking on relational responsibility for inclusive processes and outcomes in the pursuit of well-being for all.

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