Building research capacity in hospital-based social workers: A participatory action research approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 147332502110485
Author(s):  
Mim Fox ◽  
Dominque Hopkins ◽  
Jenni Graves
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Research Engagement ◽  
The Impact

Research engagement can support a social work clinician, manager and educator in the complexity of everyday practice however in the hospital setting social workers find themselves challenged by the range of potential research questions and methodologies that do not align with their daily experience, professional values or ways of collaboratively working. Four metropolitan hospitals and a university partner worked together to explore the impact of a collaborative capacity building model on the ability for social workers to engage in research activity. Using a Participatory Action Research framework, the research team identified the elements that contribute to a non-hierarchical and successful research dynamic, as well as the challenges that committing to research activity brings in the clinical role. Through reflecting on and articulating the pracademic, or practitioner-researcher, model used and the dominant values that contribute to social work research this study is transferable to other similarly challenged hospital social work departments and health settings.

Quality management effects on operating theater's productivity: a participatory action research

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad ◽  
Mahnaz Afshari
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Management Model ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Management Model

PurposeThe operating theater (OT) is resource-intensive, costly and assuring its productivity is a high priority. This study aimed to examine a quality management model's effects on a hospital's OT productivity.Design/methodology/approachThe participatory action research approach was used for the intervention. A multidisciplinary quality improvement team was formed. The team improved OT operational processes using an eight-step quality management model. OT’s key performance indicators such as surgical cases, surgical cancellation, bill deductions, successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, patients' complaints and employees' job satisfaction were collected before the intervention and compared with those of after intervention to determine the efficacy of the quality management model.FindingsApplying a quality management strategy increased surgical patients' number by 14.96%, reduced surgery operations cancellation by 14.6 %, and decreased bill deduction by 44.9%. Besides, successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation increased by 21.17%, patients' complaints reduced by 61.5% and, finally, staff satisfaction increased by 15.6 %. Improved OT productivity resulted in improved financial performance. As a result, the OT revenue has risen by 68.8%.Originality/valueThis study highlights that implementing the right quality management model properly enhances hospitals' productivity. It also offers suggestions on how to implement a quality management model successfully in a hospital setting.

Radicalising Community Development within Social Work through Popular Education—A Participatory Action Research Project

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 2207-2225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Westoby ◽  
Athena Lathouras ◽  
Lynda Shevellar
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Popular Education ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Action Research Approach

AbstractThis article reports upon the efforts of three social work/social science academics in partnership with social and community practitioners, at radicalising community development (CD) within social work. The project was motivated by painful political events and processes unfolding around the world in 2017 and led to the design of a participatory action research approach with thirty-three practitioners. Engaging in several cycles of research (pre- and post questionnaires, observation, focus groups and interviews) and action learning (a popular education knowledge exchange day, a community of practice day and prototyping new projects) several new initiatives were implemented, including the formation of a new Popular Education Network. Reflections and discussion consider the implications of radicalising CD within social worker practice through combining education, organising and linking to progressive social movements. The article overall makes the case that popular education could be a crucial element in enabling the radicalisation of CD within social work.

scholarly journals Participatory Action Research on the Impact of Community Gardening in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Investigating the Seeding Plan in Shanghai, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6243
Author(s):  
Huaiyun Kou ◽  
Sichu Zhang ◽  
Wenjia Li ◽  
Yuelai Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Gardening ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Impact

This study aims to examine the impacts of community gardening on the daily life of residents and the management organisation of pandemic prevention in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, a major public health scourge in 2020. The research team applied a participatory action research approach to work with residents to design and implement the Seeding Plan, a contactless community gardening program. The authors carried out a study to compare the everyday conditions reflecting residents’ mental health of the three subject groups during the pandemic: the participants of the Seeding Plan (Group A), the non-participants living in the same communities that had implemented the Seeding Plan (Group B), and the non-participants in other communities (Group C). According to the results, group A showed the best mental health among the three; Group B, positively influenced by seeding activities, was better than Group C. The interview results also confirmed that the community connections established through gardening activities have a significant impact on maintaining a positive social mentality under extraordinary circumstances. From this, the study concluded that gardening activities can improve people’s mental health, effectively resist negative impacts, and it is a convenient tool with spreading influence on the entire community, so as to support the collective response to public health emergencies in a bottom-up direction by the community.

Finding a place for my research to belong: experiences of early-career social work participatory action researchers in neoliberal academia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine S. Kramer ◽  
Darren Cosgrove ◽  
Sarah Mountz ◽  
Eunwoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Us

Social workers face complex challenges that demand practice-engaged research and research-engaged practice. Participatory action research and community-based participatory research span the boundaries that often exist between the research and practice communities. Some social workers argue the values underpinning participatory action research and community-based participatory research align with the values of the profession; however, such methodologies are not widely represented in social work research in the US. This article presents the findings of a study examining the lived experiences of 15 early-career scholars, mostly based in the US, who were pursuing participatory action research and community-based participatory research. The neoliberalisation of the academy pervaded their experiences, presenting significant barriers to their ability to pursue action-oriented methodologies. Review of the international participatory action research literature also suggests the US may contrast with other regions in the world like Asia and Latin America, where participatory action research is more robust. Recommendations to better develop participatory action research social work literature are offered.

scholarly journals Use of participatory action research approach to develop a self-management resource for persons living with dementia

Dementia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147130122199728
Author(s):  
Sherry Dupuis ◽  
Carrie McAiney ◽  
Lisa Loiselle ◽  
Brenda Hounam ◽  
Jim Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
Essential Components

This article describes the use of a participatory action research (PAR) approach to developing a self-management resource for persons living with dementia and care partners. Despite growing evidence that persons with dementia are able to contribute in meaningful ways to decision-making about their care and life preferences, few opportunities exist for them to participate in the design of resources and services meant for them. There is also a need to support the self-management of persons living with dementia with the provision of accurate, high quality, user-friendly information. The Living Well with Dementia resource was developed through a partnership with persons with dementia, family members, Alzheimer Society representatives, primary care providers, and researchers. The methods used in the development of this resource are outlined in six steps employed in this process, from establishment of a PAR team to final resource creation. Informed by a whole systems approach, the resource brings together essential components of self-management into a comprehensive system of care and support for living. It empowers users to be active participants in the application of new knowledge to their lives. Better self-management has important implications for access to health care and quality of life for persons with dementia and care partners.

Community Participatory Action Research Approach as an Effective Tool Towards Adoption of Corn-Based Farming System Technologies by Libona, Bukidnon Farmers

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Duna ◽  
◽  
Juanita Salvani ◽  
Marivic Paday ◽  
Joy Daproza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Approach

participatory, community, technologies, adoption, sustainability

“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 Using Action Research to Improve Race Relations in Prisons

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Race Relations ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Utilization Focused

Tackling racism in prisons has a relatively long policy, practice, and research history in England and Wales. However, clear evidence of success in reducing racism in prisons has been, and still is, difficult to find. This article is based on a unique study that was carried out either side of the new millennium (late 1999 to mid-2001), but no equivalent exercise has been repeated since. Due to a unique set of circumstances at the time the study was carried out, it became possible to employ an action research approach that required policymakers, practitioners, volunteers, and researchers to agree on: an emergent research design; implementation; intervention; and measurement. There are many forms of action research, but this study could best be defined as a “utilization-focused evaluation, which is particularly applicable to the criminal justice environment. This approach also included elements of participatory action research.” The emphasis here is to show how the action research approach can be both more systematic and more flexible than traditional social science approaches. This applies to both epistemological and research methods considerations, because, by combining theory and action, action research can provide a more viable way of ensuring that policy works in practice, and is sensitive to unique institutional exigencies. Throughout, discussion is contextualised using policy, research and methodology texts from the period when the research was commissioned, but given an overall methodological context by referencing more recent methodology text books. The article first outlines the context in which the action research study was commissioned, before providing a summary of the international research findings on race relations in prisons, from which key concepts for the project were initially operationalized. The chapter then explains how the specific participatory action research approach was selected as the most appropriate design, the extent to which the approach was successful, and why. The article ends with a discussion of the implications of findings and conclusions from this study for current policy and methodological approaches.

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