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Gashi S, Kaspar H, Holtforth MG. Personal benefits of older adults engaging in a participatory action research (PAR) project. J Aging Stud 2023; 67:101192. [PMID: 38012949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Participatory action research (PAR) is the process of conducting research with people rather than for them and is perceived as an empowering activity for older adults who participate in it. However, there is little evidence that outlines and explains the reasons why older adults engage in PAR. Thus, the aim of this study was to better understand the personal benefits for older adults participating in PAR. We based our study on the experiences of four older adults who volunteered for CareComLabs, a Swiss-based PAR project, for more than two years. A constructivist grounded theory design was used to explore the benefits of participating in CareComLabs by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The analysis yielded four categories of personal benefits of participating in CareComLabs: (a) enriching relationships; (b) broadening horizons for older age; (c) keeping in touch with one's profession; and (d) interacting in a nurturing community. Our findings may have implications for policies and frameworks focused on the identification of the potential of participatory action research as a community resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shkumbin Gashi
- Health Department, University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Murtenstrasse 10, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Heidi Kaspar
- Health Department, University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Murtenstrasse 10, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Grosse Holtforth
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
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Oswald AG, Cooper L, Guess A. Intersectional epistemic tensions associated with building knowledge with LGBTQ+ older adults of color. J Aging Stud 2023; 66:101161. [PMID: 37704279 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
In gerontological research, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) older adults of color are a hard-to-reach and underrepresented population. In this paper, we reflected upon the process of designing and implementing a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study by and for LGBTQ+ older adults of color committed to intersectionality. Data generted from fieldnotes and focus groups with five older Black lesbians were analyzed to uncover epistemic tensions associated with building intersectional knowledge for social justice. Study findings addressed the fraught nature of scientific knowledge production influenced by inequitable power structures and historically extractive research practices. Specifically, how cultural, political, and intergenerational tensions as well as the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the research process and were instrumental in learning about culturally responsive research. Putting PAR in dialogue with intersectionality opened an expansive paradigm that addressed the limitations of gerontological research. We end with implications for culturally responsive research with marginalized populations in aging studies, such as older LGBTQ+ adults of color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin G Oswald
- Department of Social Welfare, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Paris M, Audet M, Brochu H, Brochu M, Desjardins C, Langlois L, Rousseau C. [La mise en abyme d'un projet intergénérationnel de recherche: Un comité intergénérationnel comme processus et sujet de recherche]. Can J Aging 2023; 42:416-424. [PMID: 37424443 DOI: 10.1017/s0714980823000041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Les projets de nature intergénérationnelle sont aujourd'hui hautement valorisés par les décideurs publics et les responsables académiques. La pandémie de COVID-19 a fait ressurgir l'importance des relations entre les générations et des projets intergénérationnels ancrés dans la communauté. Cet article présente les résultats d'une étude visant à faire travailler ensemble des personnes aînées et des jeunes adultes au sein d'un projet intergénérationnel ancré dans la communauté. La particularité dans cette étude c'est qu'elle utilise une démarche méthodologique co-constructive, c'est-à-dire qu'elle jumelle des chercheurs et des chercheures académiques de différents horizons et des personnes aînées citoyennes tout au long du processus de recherche. Les résultats portent particulièrement sur les attentes des personnes participantes au projet intergénérationnel, la description du déroulement du projet (sur une période de dix mois) et les perceptions des relations intergénérationnelles au cours du projet. Nous terminons l'article par une discussion autour des constats centraux de notre étude et de notre expérience dans le cadre d'une recherche co-constructive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Paris
- Université de Moncton, École de travail social, 1 Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Mélisa Audet
- Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | | | - Martin Brochu
- Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Son BK, Miura T, Yabu KI, Sumikawa Y, Kim D, Lyu W, Yang Y, Tanaka M, Tanaka T, Yoshizawa Y, Iijima K. The Co-Design/Co-Development and Evaluation of an Online Frailty Check Application for Older Adults: Participatory Action Research with Older Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6101. [PMID: 37372688 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Frailty is an age-related condition characterized by a decline in physical capacity with an increased vulnerability to stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was considerable progression in frailty in older adults. Therefore, an online frailty check (FC) is required for continuous screening, especially acceptable to older adults. We aimed to co-design/co-develop an online FC application with FC supporters who were facilitators in a pre-existing onsite FC program in the community. It consisted of a self-assessment of sarcopenia and an 11-item questionnaire assessing dietary, physical, and social behaviors. Opinions obtained from FC supporters (median 74.0 years) were categorized and implemented. The usability was assessed using the system usability scale (SUS). For both FC supporters and participants (n = 43), the mean score was 70.2 ± 10.3 points, which implied a "marginally high" acceptability and a "good" adjective range. Multiple regression analysis showed that the SUS score was significantly correlated with onsite-online reliability, even after adjusting for age, sex, education level, and ICT proficiency (b = 0.400, 95% CI: 0.243-1.951, p = 0.013). We also validated the online FC score, which showed a significant association between onsite and online FC scores (R = 0.670, p = 0.001). In conclusion, the online FC application is an acceptable and reliable tool to check frailty for community-dwelling older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Kyung Son
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Takahiro Miura
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Human Augmentation Research Center (HARC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Kashiwa 277-0882, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichiro Yabu
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Yuka Sumikawa
- Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Dongyool Kim
- Department of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of International Agriculture and Food Studies, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Weida Lyu
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yingxue Yang
- Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Moeko Tanaka
- Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tomoki Tanaka
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yasuyo Yoshizawa
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Katsuya Iijima
- Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
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Raymond E, Tremblay C, Lebel JG. Optimizing older adult co-researchers’ involvement in PAR: proposed evaluation tool. QUALITY IN AGEING AND OLDER ADULTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/qaoa-12-2021-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to share a practical evaluation tool intended to guide and support the participation of older people in PAR projects. Participatory action research (PAR) studies with older adults have been increasing over the past ten years. Scientific evidence provides key principles for PAR projects to achieve meaningful participation by older people; however, respecting the ideals of PAR is not always straightforward.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a case study that evaluated the involvement of nonacademic researchers in a PAR project using an evaluation tool derived from a literature review of PAR undertaken with this population (Corrado et al., 2020). The study goals were first to assess the assets and limits of the older co-researchers’ participation within the PAR project, and second to provide a revised version of the evaluation tool to support future PAR with older people. First, the authors designed an evaluation tool for nonacademic participation in PAR studies by older people that covers three main themes: older people positioned as prominent research partners; symmetrical power relations between academic and nonacademic researchers; and commitment regarding inclusiveness and long-term collaboration. Second, the authors performed an evaluation using this tool within the Active Aging with Dignity PAR Project.
Findings
Third, the authors used the results of this experiment to suggest improvements for an enhanced version of the evaluation tool aiming at supporting fuller involvement of older nonacademic researchers in PAR studies.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this evaluative tool is a methodological innovation in gerontology.
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Abstract
Abstract
Interest in co-research with older adults has grown in the past 20 years, yet few published studies have addressed why and how older people have been involved as partners in research. This article presents a systematic review of the literature, examining the aims and challenges of co-research and the ways in which older adults can be involved in research. Systematic searches covering several databases were conducted, yielding a total of 3,293 articles, with 27 papers reviewed which involved older people as co-researchers across more than one stage of the research cycle. We find that co-research with older people offers improved understandings of the issues facing older people; more inclusive and responsive policy, practice and service design; and opportunities for co-researchers to develop new skills whilst giving voice to marginalised groups of older people. The analysis highlights the different ways in which older adults can be involved across phases of research, and identifies ethical, methodological and practical challenges encountered in the process. Involving older adults as co-researchers, while labour intensive and practically challenging, holds promise as an underdeveloped resource for social gerontology, as well as older people themselves. The paper identifies four pathways for improving and extending co-research: developing diversified structures of involvement, supporting co-researchers, embedding research rigour and ensuring co-ownership of change.
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