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Systematic review of the uptake and design of action research in published nursing research, 2000-2005

Faculty of Health and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK

Andrew McVicar

Faculty of Health and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK

Lesley Smith

Faculty of Health and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK

Action research (AR) is promoted for health care development. A systematic review was undertaken to gain insight into the uptake and designs of practice-based AR. Empirical research papers from 2000 to 2005 were extracted from CINAHL, MEDLINE and British Nursing Index, and two specialist AR journals. The initial search identified 335 papers: 38% were AR (20% were phenomenology; 32% ethnography; 10% randomised-controlled trials). Further filtering produced 62 AR papers for detailed analysis. Eighty-seven per cent of AR studies involved 'organisational/professional development', or 'educational' settings; only 13% were directly 'clinical'. Practitioners were the main participants in 90% of studies. Seventy-two per cent of all participant groups were rated 'active' in the research process, yet 70% of first (lead) authors were from an academic institution. Patients/carers were generally passive in the research process and absent from the authorship. Ninety per cent of studies used two or more methods, predominantly qualitative. Forty-four per cent of articles identified external funding sources, relatively high for nursing research. Participatory AR has a strong identity in practice-based research, with a diversity of methods. The focus reflects that of nursing research generally. A high level of participation by practitioners is evident but with little equity in authorship. Service user/carer involvement should be given more prominence by researchers.

Key Words: action research • methodology • nursing research • participation • research design

Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol. 13, No. 6, 465-477 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1744987108090297


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