The development and realization of a research-through-design knowledge translation approach in a palliative care context. Issue 1 (31st May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saunders, Stephanie; Hale Wilkes, Kate; Oikonen, Karen; Abrams, Jonathan; Lovrics, Emily; Stern, Maya A.; Cheung, Maria; Wentlandt, Kirsten; Isenberg, Sarina R.
• Is Part Of: Design for health. Volume 5:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 39
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2021-05-31
• Subjects: Palliative care -- end of life -- design installation -- participatory research -- participatory design -- framework; Medical technology -- Design -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Design -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Design and construction -- Periodicals; 610.705
• DOI: 10.1080/24735132.2021.1928447
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2473-5132

Abstract

Abstract: Due to poor access, health research rarely engages with stakeholders outside of academia. As a result, it has become imperative to find strategic and creative ways to engage the public. We undertook a research-through-design knowledge translation approach to disseminate our research about transitioning home at end of life (EOL) and generate reciprocal insights from a broader community. Undertaking a co-creation process, our research, clinical, and patient team partnered with an innovation design team to present a design installation conveying a sense of medicalization of home at the EOL at the Toronto-based DesignTO festival in January 2020. The installation incorporated research participants' experiences while encouraging attendees to share wishes and/or worries about transitioning from hospital to home at EOL. Fifteen hundred visitors attended our section of the event and 100 attendees interacted with our installation. We interpreted this process as a research-to-public feedback loop, whereby attendees had the opportunity to learn about EOL research and contribute to it with tangible outcomes that can support future research. Overall, making use of research-through-design resulted in a research-to-public feedback approach that can be trialled in various contexts outside EOL.