Background

In healthcare numerous implementation efforts are made to integrate new knowledge in practice. Some even say that future medical breakthroughs are more dependent on how fortunate these integrating processes are than of the medical research itself (Calltorp et al, 2006). Bridging the Gap is a Vinnvård-financed researchproject which is contributing with deeper understanding about how healthcare systems can acquire new knowledge in practice. The project intends to do the knowledgeproduction and the application at the same time in a participatory research effort to go beyond knowledge transfer problems. Pedagogical and sociological communicative theories support that application interests are constitutive of the knowledge production process and not just related to subsequent forms of the same (Fritzell, 2006).

Aim

The purpose of an ongoing subproject of Bridging the Gap is to study learning processes in daily activities that aims for increased value for patients in terms of quality improvement.

Methods

The subproject is interdisciplinary conducted with researchers from both a pedagogical and a technical research field. Observations were made to collect data of how the personnel discussed findings and interventions from their registered measurements. The participatory actions with the clinic were planned as three learning seminars building on the model of Ellström (2008) and Fritzell (2003).

Results

The first seminar led to fruitful discussion about the problematization of the study and it pointed out the research questions more distinctively. At the second seminar reflections from the data collection were discussed without having it analysed yet just to make sure we were on track together. The researchers benefitted from having the data validated and the practitioners from reflecting about how they can do immediate changes to improve in practice. At the conference in the beginning of may the results from the study and an evaluation of the methodological participatory effort can be presented.

References

Calltorp, J., Johansson, A. och Maathz, G. (2006). Kunskapsbaserad ledning, styrning och utveckling inom hälso- och sjukvården. Stockholm: Sveriges kommuner och landsting.

Ellström, P-E. (2008). Knowledge Creation Through Interactive Research: A Learning Approach. Paper presented at the ECER Conference, September 10-12  2008, Göteborg.

Fritzell, C. (2003). Towards deliberative relationships between pedagogic theory and practice. Nordisk pedagogik, nr 2 (2003), s. 93-103.

Fritzell, C. 2006. On the Reconstruction of Educational Science. Educational Philosophy and Theory, vol 28, no 2, 2006.