Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research
Abstract Background Mixed methods research studies continue to pervade the field of health care, where pragmatism as a research paradigm and patient‐oriented research (POR) as an engagement strategy are combined to strengthen the process and outcomes of the research. Pragmatists use the most appropr...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Health Expectations |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13384 |
| _version_ | 1819280557628981248 |
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| author | Brooke Allemang Kathleen Sitter Gina Dimitropoulos |
| author_facet | Brooke Allemang Kathleen Sitter Gina Dimitropoulos |
| author_sort | Brooke Allemang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mixed methods research studies continue to pervade the field of health care, where pragmatism as a research paradigm and patient‐oriented research (POR) as an engagement strategy are combined to strengthen the process and outcomes of the research. Pragmatists use the most appropriate research methods to address issues at hand, where complex social problems need multipronged approaches. As an emerging healthcare research strategy, POR actively engages individuals with lived experience across all stages of the research process. While POR continues to garner attention within mixed‐methods research designs, there is a paucity of literature that considers POR in relation to pragmatism. Objective As POR grows in popularity within the field of health care, there is a need to explore the theoretical and epistemological alignment with pragmatism and the implications to research. Methods To address this need, we provide a critical review of the literature to examine the synergies between POR and pragmatism, and argue for the adoption of pragmatism as a paradigm for conducting POR. Main Results This article begins with a discussion of the philosophical underpinnings informing the pragmatic paradigm. It then identifies key alignments between POR and pragmatism across three intersecting concepts: democratic values, collaborative approaches to problem‐solving and the pursuit of social justice. Discussion and Conclusions Reflecting on our experiences engaging with patient partners in a mixed‐methods POR study titled READY2Exit, we illustrate the relevance of pragmatism to POR by applying these concepts to practice. Implications and considerations for conducting POR within the pragmatic paradigm are also described. Patient or Public Contribution This paper provides a critical review of the literature and did not directly involve patients or the public. The authors reflected on their experiences collaborating with five young adult patient partners in the READY2Exit study (case exemplar described in this article) to demonstrate the relevance of the pragmatic paradigm to POR. We acknowledge and thank the young adult patient partners for their contributions to the research, for encouraging us to think critically about patient engagement in research, and for sharing their experiences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:45:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b7051f973004e599f0b5a912b08e5a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1369-6513 1369-7625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:45:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Expectations |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b7051f973004e599f0b5a912b08e5a22022-12-21T17:23:49ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252022-02-01251384710.1111/hex.13384Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented researchBrooke Allemang0Kathleen Sitter1Gina Dimitropoulos2Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Work University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Social Work, Faculty of Social Work University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Social Work, Faculty of Social Work University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaAbstract Background Mixed methods research studies continue to pervade the field of health care, where pragmatism as a research paradigm and patient‐oriented research (POR) as an engagement strategy are combined to strengthen the process and outcomes of the research. Pragmatists use the most appropriate research methods to address issues at hand, where complex social problems need multipronged approaches. As an emerging healthcare research strategy, POR actively engages individuals with lived experience across all stages of the research process. While POR continues to garner attention within mixed‐methods research designs, there is a paucity of literature that considers POR in relation to pragmatism. Objective As POR grows in popularity within the field of health care, there is a need to explore the theoretical and epistemological alignment with pragmatism and the implications to research. Methods To address this need, we provide a critical review of the literature to examine the synergies between POR and pragmatism, and argue for the adoption of pragmatism as a paradigm for conducting POR. Main Results This article begins with a discussion of the philosophical underpinnings informing the pragmatic paradigm. It then identifies key alignments between POR and pragmatism across three intersecting concepts: democratic values, collaborative approaches to problem‐solving and the pursuit of social justice. Discussion and Conclusions Reflecting on our experiences engaging with patient partners in a mixed‐methods POR study titled READY2Exit, we illustrate the relevance of pragmatism to POR by applying these concepts to practice. Implications and considerations for conducting POR within the pragmatic paradigm are also described. Patient or Public Contribution This paper provides a critical review of the literature and did not directly involve patients or the public. The authors reflected on their experiences collaborating with five young adult patient partners in the READY2Exit study (case exemplar described in this article) to demonstrate the relevance of the pragmatic paradigm to POR. We acknowledge and thank the young adult patient partners for their contributions to the research, for encouraging us to think critically about patient engagement in research, and for sharing their experiences.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13384paradigmpatient engagementpatient‐oriented researchpragmatic researchpragmatismyouth engagement |
| spellingShingle | Brooke Allemang Kathleen Sitter Gina Dimitropoulos Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research Health Expectations paradigm patient engagement patient‐oriented research pragmatic research pragmatism youth engagement |
| title | Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research |
| title_full | Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research |
| title_fullStr | Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research |
| title_short | Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient‐oriented research |
| title_sort | pragmatism as a paradigm for patient oriented research |
| topic | paradigm patient engagement patient‐oriented research pragmatic research pragmatism youth engagement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13384 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brookeallemang pragmatismasaparadigmforpatientorientedresearch AT kathleensitter pragmatismasaparadigmforpatientorientedresearch AT ginadimitropoulos pragmatismasaparadigmforpatientorientedresearch |