Participatory Action Research with High-risk Groups: Best Practice for Researchers' Safety and Data Integrity

IntroductionPoorer health outcomes and disproportionate healthcare use in socioeconomically disadvantaged patients is well established. However, there is sparse literature on effective integrated care interventions that specifically target these high-risk individuals. The Integrated Community of Care (ICoC) is a novel care model that integrates hospital-based transitional care with health and social care in the community for high-risk individuals living in socially deprived communities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the ICoC in reducing acute hospital use and investigate the implementation process and its effects on clinical outcomes using a mixed-methods participatory action research (PAR) approach.Methods and analysisThis is a single-centre prospective, controlled, observational study performed in the SingHealth Regional Health System. A total of 250 eligible patients from an urbanised low-income community in Singapore will be enrolled during their index hospitalisation. Our PAR model combines two research components: quantitative and qualitative, at different phases of the intervention. Outcomes of acute hospital use and health-related quality of life are compared with controls, at 30 days and 1 year. The qualitative study aims at developing a more context-specific social ecological model of health behaviour. This model will identify how influences within one’s social environment: individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy factors affect people’s experiences and behaviours during care transitions from hospital to home. Knowledge on the operational aspects of ICoC will enrich our evidence-based strategies to understand the impact of the ICoC. The blending of qualitative and quantitative mixed methods recognises the dynamic implementation processes as well as the complex and evolving needs of community stakeholders in shaping outcomes.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was granted by the SingHealth Centralised Institutional Review Board (CIRB 2015/2277). The findings from this study will be disseminated by publications in peer-reviewed journals, scientific meetings and presentations to government policy-makers.Trial registration numberNCT02678273

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Identifying best-practice amongst health professionals who work with people using image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) through participatory action research

Qualitative Research in Sport Exercise and Health ◽

10.1080/2159676x.2021.1898457 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Katinka van de Ven ◽

Ian Boardley ◽

Martin Chandler

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Best Practice ◽

Participatory Action ◽

And Performance ◽

Performance Enhancing Drugs ◽

Performance Enhancing

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Exploring the co-involvement of disabled adolescents in participatory action research; protocol for a critical interpretative synthesis

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.13343.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 79

Author(s):

Fiona McDonald ◽

Katie Robinson ◽

Aoife L. Gallagher ◽

Judith Pettigrew

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Best Practice ◽

Shared Responsibility ◽

Future Research ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Academic Researchers ◽

Practice Framework

Background: Participatory action research (PAR) provides an opportunity for academic researchers and adolescents to co-conduct research within an area of shared interest. Reciprocal learning occurs as co-researchers acquire research skills and knowledge, and academic researchers gain understanding of the issue being examined, from the perspective of those with lived experience. All members of the research team have a shared responsibility for the research and decision-making processes. PAR has predominantly involved adults as co-researchers. However, in recent years more effort has been made to co-conduct research with adolescents. The aim of this review is to interrogate the practices of academic researchers employing a PAR approach when working along-side disabled adolescents. Methods/design: A critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) will be conducted, allowing for a diverse range of evidence to be drawn from. A systematic search of nine databases, from 1990 onwards, will be conducted first. Reference checking will occur to elicit further relevant data. Following screening, further purposive sampling will be completed to facilitate the development of concepts and theory in line with the on-going analysis and synthesis of findings. Data analysis will involve interpretation of included papers in relation to the principles of PAR and a ‘best-practice’ framework will be developed. During analysis particular emphasis will be given to the identification of potential social barriers to the participation of disabled adolescents in PAR. Discussion: PAR is widely employed but little is known about its use when working with disabled adolescents. This current CIS will critically question the current practices of academic researchers employing PAR when working along-side disabled adolescents and future research through the best practice framework we will develop.

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