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HELSEVEL-H-Gode og effektive helse-, omsorgs- og velferdstjenester

Promoting social innovation within institution-based elderly care

Alternative title: Drivkrefter for sosial innovasjon i institusjonsbasert eldreomsorg

Awarded: NOK 10.0 mill.

The health care services within the institution-based elderly care are subject to several challenges: an aging population, costly technology and rising public expectations. Within practice there is a need for strengthening the ability to develop the services to meet the challenges. The overall perspective of this project is that the service in itself constitutes a central condition for sustainable social innovation. Social innovation can be understood as the process and outcome of applying new knowledge, combining existing knowledge in new ways or applying it to new contexts. Social innovation emphasizes the need for collaboration within and across several levels and areas. This project focuses on collaboration within the institution, between service providers and managers, between practice, education and research, and across geographical borders, both in Norway and between Norway and Denmark. The main research question is: How can collaboration between practice, education and research promote social innovation within institution-based elderly care? The study includes three work packages that address practice, education and scientific knowledge. Data production is based on observation, interviews and questionnaires. Norwegian and Danish researchers from five research institutes and universities have carried out the project in close collaboration with partners from two education institutions and five nursing homes. Dissemination of findings include 12 scientific articles in peer reviewed national and international journals and three book chapters as well as a learning resource on good practices in nursing homes. We have presented papers at relevant conferences and organized workshops annually for researchers, education institutions, and the services. We have arranged local and national workshops and a closing conference for a larger audience in June 2019.

Resultater fra delstudie 1a bidrar til større kunnskap om hvilken betydning en tilstedeværende og støttende ledelse har for innovasjonsprosesser i sykehjem, og tydeliggjør relasjonen mellom læring og innovasjon. Delstudien bidrar med spesifikk kunnskap fra sykehjem til den mer generelle litteraturen på dette feltet. Delstudie 1b viser at den nyutviklede metodikken gir rike muligheter til kunnskapsutvikling om sosial innovasjon som tidligere ikke var mulig. Delstudie 2 handlet blant annet om å utvikle et utdanningsprogram for norske studenter. Studentene opplever bruk av personsentret omsorg i praksis som en ny tenkemåte som er spennende og utfordrende, og trygger dem i forholdet til personer med demens. Her er det potensiale for at andre sykepleieutdanninger kan trekke veksel på programmet. Delstudie 3 kan ses som en modell for kunnskaps- og kvalitetsutvikling i samarbeid mellom ulike kunnskapsbesittere og -interessenter, ut over dette spesifikke feltet.

Within the institution-based elderly health care, there is a need for strengthening the services´ ability to meet the future´s increasing challenges. The primary aim of this proposed project is to identify how collaboration between practice, education and research-(the knowledge triangle)- can meet this challenge and promote social innovation within the service. Based on the project´s aim, three work packages have been designed, containing operationalized research questions, theoretical framework and methods. WP1 will provide new insight into conditions for and competence needed to succeed with social innovation within the field. WP2 will strengthen the link between the practice of health care services and educational institutions, through enhancing the practical part of the education. Two projects, focusing on improving practice and guidance for nursing students, will be looked into. WP3 will validate the research process, seen as a co-driven innovation in itself. Dissemination of knowledge is stressed in WP3 and will enable the project results to yield benefits for education, end-users, and service providers. The impact of the project is: 1) An innovation culture within the health care service, characterized by learning, and competence, 2) An education that prepares students to transform theoretical knowledge and practical skills into innovative practices, 3) A theoretical knowledge extending the understanding of social innovation within health care services, 4) A model of how collaboration between practice, education and research can promote social innovation within institution-based elderly care. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Norwegian and Danish partners from five research institutes/universities, two educational institutions and five nursing homes. Nordland Research Institute will be the project owner. National Association of Public Health and Norwegian Nurses Organization represent the end-users in the project.

Publications from Cristin

Funding scheme:

HELSEVEL-H-Gode og effektive helse-, omsorgs- og velferdstjenester