Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Using Participatory Action Research in the Deve...

Electronic data

View graph of relations

Using Participatory Action Research in the Development of an Innovative Cottage Hospice Model of Care in the United Kingdom

Research output: Contribution to conference - Without ISBN/ISSN Posterpeer-review

Published
Publication date2/10/2018
<mark>Original language</mark>English
Event22nd International Congress on Palliative Care - Montreal, Canada
Duration: 2/10/20185/10/2018
http://www.palliativecare.ca/

Conference

Conference22nd International Congress on Palliative Care
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period2/10/185/10/18
Internet address

Abstract

Title
Using Participatory Action Research in the development of an innovative Cottage Hospice model of care in the United Kingdom

Objectives
a) To contribute to the development of the Cottage Hospice programme and its constituent components.
b) To ascertain barriers to and facilitators of Cottage Hospice using action cycles to address identified challenges.

Methods
Our three-phase Participatory Action Research (PAR) study comprised:
1) A situational analysis using documents (n=150) and stakeholder qualitative interviews (n=28).
2) A Core Action Group oversaw action cycles designed to address challenges identified from the situational data. Local stakeholders participated in a deliberative workshop where study results were presented and refined.
3) An end of study conference is planned in order to disseminate learning to a wider stakeholder audience

Results
Results presented here align with the objectives in terms of identifying challenges and contributing to the development of the Cottage Hospice programme. Our situational analysis revealed growing support and enthusiasm for the model among hospice staff and volunteers, over time. However, anxieties regarding the viability, reach and conceptual clarity of Cottage Hospice were identified, as were concerns about communication systems and staff feedback to the planning team. Early results demonstrated a need to gather the views of a wider range of health and social care providers regarding the local impact of the initiative. Action cycles included a focus on determining who might use Cottage Hospice; what support family caregivers may need; and conceptual explorations of ‘family’. The deliberative workshop enabled findings to be refined in discussion with those most invested in Cottage Hospice, feeding into the final report and dissemination plans.

Conclusions
Using PAR democratises the research process and provided an opportunity for all interested parties to contribute to the development of Cottage Hospice. It enabled ‘ground up’ development and ownership of the model and led to contextualised solutions to identified challenges. Despite the locally situated setting, we believe the lessons learned are widely applicable.