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 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisor | Maggi Savin-Baden (Supervisor), Guy Daly (Supervisor), John Woolham (Supervisor) & Katherine Wimpenny (Supervisor) |