Action research: a suitable method for promoting change in nurse education

This paper arose from a research study and its follow-up in four schools of nursing and midwifery. The study was concerned with evaluating the extent to which a philosophy of health had been integrated into the educational cu rricula of nurses, midwives and health visitors. The purpose of the follow- up was to disseminate and implement the study findings in the four centres. The findings showed that the interpretation and implementation of a philos ophy of hearth in nursing had been variable. Hearth was operationalized as both health education and health promotion ranging from individualized info rmation giving and disease prevention. Action research was chosen as the ap propriate methodology for the follow-up because of its emphasis on particip ation and partnership. As the follow-up study progressed a number of issues emerged which were indicative of the changes taking place in nurse educati on as its institutional base shifted into higher education. Other issues we re associated with the gap between the rhetoric and reality of action resea rch and the expectations and needs of the key partners. The authors conclud e that the follow-up study presented both challenges and opportunities to n urse educators in their endeavour to undertaken research and implement educ ational change. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.