The Process of Using Participatory Action Research when Trying out an ICT Solution in Home-Based Rehabilitation

Abstract

This article describes the process of using PAR and discusses the strengths and challenges of adopting it as a methodology. With a pilot project “the rehabilitation journey” as a showcase, we share experiences of how we co-created knowledge and illustrate the actions taken and participants’ involvement in the process. This pilot project aimed to explore how ICT solutions can create new ways to deliver home-based rehabilitation that meet the needs of the organization, rehabilitation professionals, and older persons. Our experience is that using PAR as a research method had several strengths. Our project stemmed from demographic and epidemiological trends in society viewed as a “real life problem” experienced on different levels in the organization of home-based rehabilitation. At the same time, PAR was a challenging research method to use, as it was time-consuming and required the commitment and contribution over time of the different participants involved. There were also specific challenges that had to be considered regarding routines and regulations, as the pilot project was conducted in a health care context. This article aspires to offer methodological guidelines by using a six-step method to illustrate a PAR process. We propose that these guidelines can act as a tool to guide researchers in carrying out PAR.