The application of future workshops in a healthcare setting

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Abstract

Introduction: The future workshop (FW) is a method designed in the seventies by the Austrian Robert Jungk, and developed to create visions for the future in a problem-solving process. Initially, FW was applied as a tool in a political context to create social fantasies, and recently, FW has been introduced into innovative context to the design of new systems and processes. FW builds upon group work, which has root in social constructivism. The FW consists of three main phases; the critique phase, the fantasy phase, and the implementation phase. The critique phase deals with the appointed theme with a critical approach. In the fantasy phase, the participants are instructed to describe a utopia to solve the problem. Lastly, the implementation phase evaluates ideas attained in the fantasy phase concerning potential implementation in everyday practice. Throughout all three phases, facilitation is necessary to promote the working process, and creativity tools are applied to promote a creative thinking process. No in-depth descriptions of the use of FW in a Danish healthcare setting have been found.
Objective: Investigation of the applicability and value of using FW to create visions in a problem-solving process on an empirical case; the use of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) within knee/hip osteoarthritis (OA) in orthopaedic surgery and general practice.
Methods: The preparation of the FW consisted of organisation, planning and management. This concerned definition of theme, design, and development of card game applied in the FW. The theme was the use of PRO within knee/hip OA. The design consisted of the three phases. The critique phase had the aim of identifying problems in the contact with the OA patient. The fantasy phase had the aim of describing the ultimate scenario for the patient’s course of treatment. Lastly, the implementation phase had the aim of embedding solutions from the fantasy phase into a realistic scenario. The applied card game was envisioned to act as the creativity tool. The card game consisted of three types of cards; domain cards and problem cards, a concept known from earlier studies but adjusted for this setting, and the newly developed PRO cards. Domain cards represented locations defined in the course of treatment of hip/knee osteoarthritis. Problem cards represented problematic situations in the contact with the OA patient. PRO cards represented the possible solution in the contact with the OA patient. Each type of card had three blank cards attached with room for additional self-made cards. A pilot test was conducted with the aim of testing the validity of design and developed card game.
Results: Two FW were conducted in March 2018; one for general practice (March 6th), where nine participants took part to form three groups, and the other for orthopaedic surgery (March 13th), where nine participants took part to also form three groups. Both FW achieved the desired aim of creating visions in a problem-solving process and audio was recorded with the purpose of future investigation through qualitative analysis. The participants demonstrated engaged discussions during both FW and general satisfaction with the participation, design and facilitation of the FW was expressed.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the application of FW and inclusion of participants from orthopaedic surgery and general practice has produced great contextual and application-oriented data that can lead to further investigation of the use of PRO. The application of FW demands deliberate consideration concerning desired knowledge, and whether this knowledge can beneficiate the study. The completion of FW with orthopaedic surgeons and general practitioners on the use of PRO within hip/knee OA suggests that FW may be used for elicitation of knowledge in a healthcare setting in the future.
Original languageEnglish
Publication dateAug 2018
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018
Event5th Nordic Conference on Research in Patient Safety and Quality in Healthcare - DGI byen, København, Denmark
Duration: 30 Aug 201831 Aug 2018
Conference number: 5
http://www.nsqh.org/2018

Conference

Conference5th Nordic Conference on Research in Patient Safety and Quality in Healthcare
Number5
LocationDGI byen
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityKøbenhavn
Period30/08/201831/08/2018
Internet address

Keywords

  • future workshop
  • patient-reported outcomes
  • General Practice
  • Orthopedics

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