Abstract
BackgroundIn health and social care settings, ineffective communication can lead to
inequalities of care, and in extreme cases, to the unnecessary deaths of people
with a learning disability (PWLD). This study examined how PWLD and health
and social staff communicate, and how the arts and sensory activities (creative
media) may be used to support more effective communication.
Methodology
The study used performance ethnography. Data were gathered from PWLD,
family, teachers and from members of a social enterprise that specialises in
teaching health and social care staff to communicate with PWLD. Creative
media were used to enable participants with limited verbal skills to share their
experiences and thoughts in non word based formats. The social enterprise
company translated the research findings into a DVD to provide an accessible
version of the study.
Findings
The study found that the relatively isolated existence of PWLD has led to the
development of a communicative culture that is different to that of the general
population. PWLD and their families have a high context, informal style of
communicating, whilst staff in health and social care settings tend to
communicate in a low context, technical manner. When members of the two
cultures meet, the result is often a culture clash. The communication formats
within creative media favour the preferred style of PWLD, and can support
more effective communication.
Conclusion
Health and social care staff need to adapt their existing performance scripts in
order to improve their communication with PWLD. Using creative media can
help staff to develop new ways of communicating, thus potentially reducing the
likelihood of health inequalities from ineffective interactions from occurring.
Date of Award | 2013 |
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Original language | English |
Awarding Institution |
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