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The use of drama to support reflection and understanding of the residents' situation in dementia care: a pilot study.

Bolmsjö, Ingrid ; Edberg, Anna-Karin LU and Lilja Andersson, Petra LU (2012) In International journal of older people nursing
Abstract
Background:

One key aspect of person-centredness is striving to understand both the patients' experiences and behaviours from their perspective. These aspects are precisely those that staff in dementia care highlight as causing them most difficulty because the people in their care have major problems expressing themselves. There is thus a need to develop a method to help the staff to achieve interpretation through reflection.



Aim:

The aim of this study was to explore the use of drama as a tool to support reflection among staff working in the residential care of people with dementia.



Design:

A qualitative evaluation of a programme consisting of three drama sessions with... (More)
Background:

One key aspect of person-centredness is striving to understand both the patients' experiences and behaviours from their perspective. These aspects are precisely those that staff in dementia care highlight as causing them most difficulty because the people in their care have major problems expressing themselves. There is thus a need to develop a method to help the staff to achieve interpretation through reflection.



Aim:

The aim of this study was to explore the use of drama as a tool to support reflection among staff working in the residential care of people with dementia.



Design:

A qualitative evaluation of a programme consisting of three drama sessions with staff working in residential care (n = 10 nurse assistants).



Methods:

Data comprised observations and tape recordings of the sessions, the researchers' reflections after each session and a focus-group interview with the participants. The texts were analysed using qualitative content analysis.



Results:

The analysis showed that: (i) the exercises stimulate reflection about daily caring practice; (ii) the participants must receive extensive information about the purpose of the sessions; (iii) the research team must secure the defined frames and conditions and have practical knowledge about caring for people with dementia and (iv) the management needs to be stable, committed and supportive.



Conclusion:

Drama seems to be a valid tool to aid reflection, but several adjustments are needed concerning both the content of the sessions and the methodology. When designing a larger intervention study, it would be preferable to the sessions to be combined with staff support to effect changes in care provision resulting from their increased awareness of the residents' situation and experience. Implications for practice. Our results showed that drama can be a means to enhance reflection among staff in residential care for people with dementia. Further research is however needed concerning the effects for the staff's situation and nursing care quality. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International journal of older people nursing
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:22676777
  • scopus:84906066644
  • pmid:22676777
ISSN
1748-3743
DOI
10.1111/j.1748-3743.2012.00333.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)
id
3d269ef1-707c-4f3d-96b3-eb356843d85e (old id 2859670)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22676777?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 07:30:54
date last changed
2022-02-05 22:44:46
@article{3d269ef1-707c-4f3d-96b3-eb356843d85e,
  abstract     = {{Background:<br/><br>
One key aspect of person-centredness is striving to understand both the patients' experiences and behaviours from their perspective. These aspects are precisely those that staff in dementia care highlight as causing them most difficulty because the people in their care have major problems expressing themselves. There is thus a need to develop a method to help the staff to achieve interpretation through reflection. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Aim:<br/><br>
The aim of this study was to explore the use of drama as a tool to support reflection among staff working in the residential care of people with dementia. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Design:<br/><br>
A qualitative evaluation of a programme consisting of three drama sessions with staff working in residential care (n = 10 nurse assistants). <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Methods:<br/><br>
Data comprised observations and tape recordings of the sessions, the researchers' reflections after each session and a focus-group interview with the participants. The texts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Results:<br/><br>
The analysis showed that: (i) the exercises stimulate reflection about daily caring practice; (ii) the participants must receive extensive information about the purpose of the sessions; (iii) the research team must secure the defined frames and conditions and have practical knowledge about caring for people with dementia and (iv) the management needs to be stable, committed and supportive. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Conclusion:<br/><br>
Drama seems to be a valid tool to aid reflection, but several adjustments are needed concerning both the content of the sessions and the methodology. When designing a larger intervention study, it would be preferable to the sessions to be combined with staff support to effect changes in care provision resulting from their increased awareness of the residents' situation and experience. Implications for practice. Our results showed that drama can be a means to enhance reflection among staff in residential care for people with dementia. Further research is however needed concerning the effects for the staff's situation and nursing care quality.}},
  author       = {{Bolmsjö, Ingrid and Edberg, Anna-Karin and Lilja Andersson, Petra}},
  issn         = {{1748-3743}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{International journal of older people nursing}},
  title        = {{The use of drama to support reflection and understanding of the residents' situation in dementia care: a pilot study.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-3743.2012.00333.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1748-3743.2012.00333.x}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}