Implementing action research in hospital settings: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Change
• Action Research

Background:

• Healthcare organizations, particularly hospitals, exhibit strong resistance to change.
• Resistance stems from professional roles, hierarchical structures, and organizational culture.
• Action research (AR) is a potential bottom-up strategy to overcome these barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on Action Research (AR) in healthcare settings.
• To identify the application and outcomes of AR in addressing change barriers within hospitals.
• To address the lack of a comprehensive review of AR in the healthcare field.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• Studies were analyzed based on the four stages of AR: problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies published in English.

Main Results:

• Only 19 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies regarding theoretical underpinnings, methodologies, and evaluation approaches.
• The review highlights a diverse landscape of AR application in healthcare.

Conclusions:

• This is the inaugural systematic review of AR interventions specifically within hospital settings.
• The field of AR in healthcare would benefit from a robust theoretical framework to guide methodology and evaluation.
• Standardization of AR approaches could enhance its effectiveness in driving organizational change in healthcare.