scholarly journals Métis Community Perspectives Inform a School-based Health Promotion Intervention Using Participatory Action Research

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Oosman ◽  
Janet Smylie ◽  
Louise Humbert ◽  
Carol Henry ◽  
Karen Chad
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
School Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Comprehensive School ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Comprehensive School Health ◽  
Increased Risk

Indigenous children in Canada have an increased risk of developing chronic conditions compared with the general Canadian population. There is limited understanding of the design of Comprehensive School Health (CSH) interventions to support health and wellness among Métis children. Comprehensive School Health (CSH) frameworks and interventions focus on supporting whole school and classroom environments and actions to promoting holistic health and well-being for children. This paper highlights experiences of a participatory action research (PAR) project engaging Métis community members to inform the design of a Métis comprehensive school health intervention. Findings highlight the process of enacting participatory action research in a Métis community while revealing Métis community priorities to inform a comprehensive school health intervention. We demonstrate a participatory approach to integrating Métis knowledge throughout the research process. We anticipate findings will be relevant to researchers, health care professionals, and community knowledge users working collaboratively to design health promoting interventions for the health and wellbeing of other Métis communities.

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.

“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 Participatory action research in the field of neonatal intensive care: developing an intervention to meet the fathers’ needs. A case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty Noergaard ◽  
Helle Johannessen ◽  
Jesper Fenger-Gron ◽  
Poul-Erik Kofoed ◽  
Jette Ammentorp
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Interdisciplinary Healthcare

<em>Background</em>: In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) health care professionals typically give most of their attention to the infants and the mothers while many fathers feel uncertain and have an unmet need for support and guidance. This paper describes and discusses participatory action research (PAR) as a method to improve NICUs’ service for fathers. Our goal is to develop a father-friendly NICU where both the needs of fathers and mothers are met using an approach based on PAR that involves fathers, mothers, interdisciplinary healthcare professionals, and managers. <br /><em>Design and methods:</em> This PAR process was carried out from August 2011 to July 2013 and included participant observations, semi-structured interviews, multi sequential interviews, workshops, focus groups, group discussion, and a seminar. The theoretical framework of validity described by Herr and Anderson’s three criteria; process-, democratic-, and catalytic validity were used to discuss this PAR. <br /><em>Results</em>: Twelve fathers, 11 mothers, 48 health professionals and managers participated in the PAR process. The collaboration ensured the engagement for viable and constructive local changes to be used in designing the concept of the father friendly NICU.<br /><em>Conclusions</em>: This paper contributed new knowledge of how PAR can be used to ensure that participants engaged in the field are involved in the entire process; consequently, this will ensure that the changes are feasible and sustainable.

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.

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