Challenges and Outcomes of Participatory Action Research in the Field of Health Promotion and Nursing

Abstract

The field of health is a complex system where multiple subjects act to carry out practices and research, requiring collective actions. Participatory action research in health (PHR) is an approach that fits the demands of this field by being collaborative and involving partners equitably in the research. We aimed to identify the challenges of the PHR for the researchers and the results in the research scenarios in nursing. The method is a theoretical reflection carried out by researchers from Brazil and Portugal, members of the International Collaboration on Participatory Health Research (ICPHR) who work in health promotion, in the field of nursing. The challenges are to choose and work with research objectives relevant to the target community and related to proposals for: improving the health status of groups / communities; improve adherence to health programs; and improve practices in health services. The PHR generates knowledge coproduction and increases the performance of those involved: establishment of links with community members and co-participation; empowerment of all generating social transformation. It is concluded that the use of PHR leads to good health promotion practices and potential for replication, supporting possible social changes through coparticipation and people-centered dialogues, increasing responsiveness and inclusion in health care.