Story dialogue as a method to connect theory and practice.

There is an ongoing debate about how to bridge the gap between theory and practise and use existing theory in everyday practice. To enhance knowledge, understanding and to promote change in clinical practice, Participatory Action Research (PAR) is recommended. PAR is a process of systematic inquiry as its methodology emphasise equality and participation. To promote change in the clinical practice the research is done with those who are concerned by the issue rather than on them. By involving and engaging, PAR brings collective ownership and responsibility of making use of the findings. Methods which emphasise reflection and dialogue help professionals to elucidate concerns about issues in their clinical practise, to challenge the status quo and to change.        

Story-telling is a tool in knowledge development as narratives are powerful to convey experiences. By using Story dialogue method narratives can be investigated in a systematic way. Dialogue and reflection enhance different ways of viewing a problem and a day to day problem can be examined in a systematic way.

This paper is about how to use Story dialogue method with the aim to support professionals to elucidate, investigate and take action towards significant problems in care planning situations.

The on-going research is performed in a multi-professional care planning network. The purpose of the network is to develop knowledge about care planning in clinical settings and to reach understanding about how to make care planning holistic. We decided in collaboration to examine what holism is in a care planning situation and used members’ narratives about care planning situations characterised by holism.       

The members and the researches have met four times. Narratives were investigated by using a structured dialogue, writing insight cards and building categories based on insights from the dialogue. Based on the categories we constructed an observation manual which later on will be tested in practise.

This paper presents an on-going research project where researchers and practitioners work together to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By using PAR and Story Dialogue Method the members in the care planning network enhance their collective knowledge and understanding about holism with the purpose to improve care planning in practice.