Social impact of participatory health research: collaborative non-linear processes of knowledge mobilization

Abstract

Social impact, defined as an effect on society, culture, quality of life, community services, or public policy beyond academia, is widely considered as a relevant requirement for scientific research, especially in the field of health care. Traditionally, in health research, the process of knowledge transfer is rather linear and one-sided and has not recognized and integrated the expertise of practitioners and those who use services. This can lead to discrimination or disqualification of knowledge and epistemic injustice. Epidemic injustice is a situation wherein certain kinds of knowers and knowledge are not taken seriously into account to define a situation. The purpose of our article is to explore how health researchers can achieve social impact for a wide audience, involving them in a non-linear process of joint learning on urgent problems recognized by the various stakeholders in public health. In participatory health research impact is not preordained by one group of stakeholders, but the result of a process of reflection and dialog with multiple stakeholders on what counts as valuable outcomes. This knowledge mobilization and winding pathway embarked upon during such research have the potential for impact along the way as opposed to the expectation that impact will occur merely at the end of a research project. We will discuss and illustrate the merits of taking a negotiated, discursive and flexible pathway in the area of community-based health promotion.

Development and evaluation of a physical activity intervention informed by participatory research- a feasibility study

“…Participation and trust emerged as key aspects guiding the success of the intervention in the current study. In contrast to interventions implemented at a population level, Transformative CBPR interventions are grounded on the principles of CBPR which also emphasizes the pivotal role played by participation (defined as a process of organizing to achieve meaningful social change), in influencing health outcomes at a community level [26]. Through merely participating in the intervention program participants in the study experienced changes not only in their lifestyle and health but also their social life and existence in the locality.…”

“…The citizens perceived the need for activities free of cost in the area and held during the day. The citizens of the locality together with different stakeholders from private, public, non-profit sectors and academic partners created a CBPR model influenced by a previously tested model [26,36] in a similar context for strategic planning of collaboration and development of health interventions focusing on key factors such as empowerment and participation at all stages including planning, implementation and evaluation.…”

“…This research approach is considered appropriate particularly since the communities themselves are involved in designing interventions that focus on the interlink between health behaviors and the social determinants of health. Success in these efforts is achieved by working with the communities to not only understand their needs and developing an intervention but by further empowering them, to address multiple barriers to health within their sociocultural context [26]. CBPR allows working collaboratively with the community members through building trust, and sharing power throughout the different stages of the research [25].…”

“…There are a few international studies on physical activity interventions guided by a CBPR approach [28][29][30][31]. Moreover, studies evaluating CBPR based intervention using multiple health evaluation methods longitudinally [26] are sparse. This study aims to present the development and initial evaluation of a participatory research driven physical activity intervention built by an established CBPR partnership with communities from socially disadvantaged neighborhoods in Sweden.…”

Reflexões Sobre O Itinerário De Pesquisa De Paulo Freire: Contribuições Para a Saúde

“…This involvement during the research enables the mobilization of knowledge and has the potential to transform a given reality, generating social impact. 17 However, the application of Paulo Freire's research itinerary still involves challenges in these fields of action, such as: the production of a liberating dialogue based on an education that promotes reflection, since an authoritarian dialogue is repeated that Freire calls banking education; the clarification of the principles that constitute the methodological framework; conducting a non-directive investigation; the possibility of participation of those involved with availability of time; and the adaptation of the language of the idealized method for adult literacy. 5,13,18 Such difficulties go beyond the need to understand Freirean conceptions, demanding a paradigm shift -positivist -whose overcoming will favor the development of a new vision of the individual and, consequently, a practice that is actually more human, affective and effective.…”