Participatory Research; Co-operative inquiry in Mental Health Care Settings

Participatory Research; Co-operative inquiry in Mental Health Care Settings (max 75) Berring, L. L. Leader of Centre for Relationship and De-escalation, Mental Health Services Region Zealand, and Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. Fælledvej 6, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark. [email protected]. Phone: 4528562921 Hybholt, L. Postdoc, Centre for Relationship and De-escalation, Mental Health Services Region Zealand, Denmark. Fælledvej 6, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark. [email protected]: Phone: +45 9357 7600 Abstract (max 400 ord): Background: Involving users such as: patients, relatives and professionals, in mental health research practices is grounded in the ideology that they have the right to have a central position in research and development of the health care services they are users of. Co.-operative inquiry is participatory research. It is research in a partnership between patients, professionals and researchers, which is supposed to ensure that the research is relevant and that the outcome of the research is grounded in the experiential knowledge of the involved individuals. However, involving laypersons in research can be both beneficial and challenging. Benefits include designing research focuses on the perspective of the users. Challenges include a risk of tokenism and a lack of clarity about roles. Background This symposium is the lessons learned through years of experiences conducting co-operative inquirys in Centre for Relationship and De-escalation, Mental Health Services Region Zealand, Denmark. The symposium includes a presentation explaining the theoretical and methodological core idea of co-operative inquiry. Followed by two examples of co-operative Inquiry projects: “Psychosocial rehabilitation of older adult bereaved by suicide” and “De-escalation in Mental Health Care settings. Aim: to present results and to share knowledge and experiences of conducting co-operative inquiries. Method: Co-operative inquiry Result: Co-operative inquiry is a research approach appropriate for collaborative research with the aim to enhance learning and changes in practice. It can be time consuming and the positions of the members of the research group is negotiated over time. Co-operative inquiry has a positive impact on the research itself as this emancipatory approach means that all participants is involved in the results drawn from the work. This joint venture enhances ownerships and support implementation. However, there is a risk that the results stay local and not is discussed in the scientific community. And a most important intellectual movement is to put forward the result to open scrutiny by competent, critical professionals. Discussion: In the symposium, We discuss pros, cons and challenges when conducting co-operative inquiry. Three learning outcomes: 1) Knowledge about how to conduct a co-operative inquiry 2) Insights in participatory processes in user research 3) Insights into pros and cons when conduction co-operative inquiry References 1) Berring, L. L., Hummelvoll, J. K., Pedersen, L. & Buus N. (2016). A co-operative inquiry into generating, describing and transforming knowledge about de-escalation practices in mental health settings. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 12, 1-13. 2) Hybholt, L. et al (2018) Psychosocial rehabilitation of elderly persons bereaved by suicide: a Co-operative iInquiry study protocol. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 3) Heron, J. (1996). Co-operative Inquiry: Research into the Human Condition. London; Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Type of presentation: symposium