Elements for harnessing participatory action research to strengthen health managers’ capacity: a critical interpretative synthesis

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorTetui, Moses
dc.contributor.authorMumba Zulu, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorHurtig, Anna-Karin
dc.contributor.authorEkirapa-Kiracho, Elizabeth
dc.contributor.authorKiwanuka, Suzanne N.
dc.contributor.authorCoe, Anna-Britt
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-28T19:06:35Z
dc.date.available2022-02-28T19:06:35Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractHealth managers play a key role in ensuring that health services are responsive to the needs of the population. Participatory action research (PAR) is one of the approaches that have been used to strengthen managers’ capacity. However, collated knowledge on elements for harnessing PAR to strengthen managers’ capacity is missing. This paper bridges this gap by reviewing existing literature on the subject matter. Methods: A critical interpretive synthesis method was used to interrogate eight selected articles. These articles reported the use of PAR to strengthen health managers’ capacity. The critical interpretive synthesis method’s approach to analysis guided the synthesis. Here, the authors interpretively made connections and linkages between different elements identified in the literature. Finally, the Atun et al. (Heal Pol Plann, 25:104–111, 2010) framework on integration was used to model the elements synthesised in the literature into five main domains. Results: Five elements with intricate bi-directional interactions were identified in the literature reviewed. These included a shared purpose, skilled facilitation and psychological safety, activity integration into organisational procedures, organisational support, and external supportive monitoring. A shared purpose of the managers’ capacity strengthening initiative created commitment and motivation to learn. This purpose was built upon a set of facilitation skills that included promoting participation, self-efficacy and reflection, thereby creating a safe psychological space within which the managers interacted and learnt from each other and their actions. Additionally, an integrated intervention strengthened local capacity and harnessed organisational support for learning. Finally, supportive monitoring from external partners, such as researchers, ensured quality, building of local capacity and professional safety networks essential for continued learning. Conclusions: The five elements identified in this synthesis provide a basis upon which the use of PAR can be harnessed, not only to strengthen health managers’ capacity, but also to foster other health systems strengthening initiatives involving implementation research. In addition, the findings demonstrated the intricate and complex relations between the elements, which further affirms the need for a systems thinking approach to tackling health systems challenges.en_US
dc.identifier.citationTetui, M., Zulu, J. M., Hurtig, A. K., Ekirapa-Kiracho, E., Kiwanuka, S. N., & Coe, A. B. (2018). Elements for harnessing participatory action research to strengthen health managers’ capacity: a critical interpretative synthesis. Health Research Policy and Systems, 16(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0306-0en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0306-0
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/2335
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherHealth Research Policy and Systemsen_US
dc.subjectParticipatory Action Researchen_US
dc.subjectFactorsen_US
dc.subjectHarnessingen_US
dc.subjectHealth managers’ capacityen_US
dc.subjectSystems thinkingen_US
dc.subjectImplementation researchen_US
dc.titleElements for harnessing participatory action research to strengthen health managers’ capacity: a critical interpretative synthesisen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Elements for harnessing participatory.pdf
Size:
888.31 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Medical and Health Sciences