Using action research in nursing practice with older people: democratizing knowledge.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reports on an action research study which raised some questions about the processes of developing a sense of shared ownership in action research in a research environment which does not always have the appropriate mechanisms to support and sustain action research.


BACKGROUND
Action research has gained popularity in nursing and healthcare research, offering a way of developing practice-based knowledge, which can assist in changing practice and democratizing inquiry.


METHODS
There are other organizational constraints on action research which arise at different levels, and which also require discussion. These can be issues about communication and ownership at a practice level and issues of funding and project management procedures. This paper reports on a study in which these issues came to the fore, and offers some thoughts on how they can affect the processes of action research.


CONCLUSIONS
While the principles of action research appear to offer much towards the development of a practice-rooted body of knowledge for nursing, unless some of the issues of ownership are resolved, it is unlikely to move beyond academic rhetoric.


CONCLUSIONS
If nursing is to engage in action research, this must be done critically and reflectively and careful attention paid to developing an inclusive and collaborative approach to knowledge and practice development. Furthermore, to develop in nursing and health care research, it must find ways to meet the requirements of funding bodies.
Reed
Jan
J
Centre for Care of Older People, School of Health, Community and Education Studies, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. jan.reed@unn.ac.uk
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D003709:Democracy; D017144:Focus Groups; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019359:Knowledge; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010067:Ownership; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D012107:Research Design; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires