Edinburgh Research Archive logo

Edinburgh Research Archive

University of Edinburgh homecrest
View Item 
  •   ERA Home
  • Health in Social Science, School of
  • Health in Social Science thesis collection
  • View Item
  •   ERA Home
  • Health in Social Science, School of
  • Health in Social Science thesis collection
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Unfulfilled expectations: a narrative study of individuals’ experiences of being a patient on an acute psychiatric inpatient ward in Scotland

View/Open
Stenhouse2009.pdf (1.217Mb)
Stenhouse2009.doc (989Kb)
Date
2009
Author
Stenhouse, Rosemary Clare
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
This study examines people’s experiences of being a patient on an acute psychiatric inpatient ward in Scotland. Within the existing research base few studies focus on the patient’s experience of acute psychiatric inpatient care, and none of these is set in Scotland. Those that do, indicate that the patient experience of acute psychiatric inpatient care is often negative. The theoretical perspective of this study conceptualises experience as represented in narrative form, thus the data take the form of narratives. Thirteen participants were recruited through the acute ward. Each participant participated in two unstructured interviews focussed on gathering narratives of their experience. Data analysis was holistic, guided by Gee’s (1991) socio-linguistic theories. This holistic analysis culminated in the presentation of each participant’s narrative in poetic form. From the holistic analysis I identified three themes - help, safety and power - that were evident in the analyses of all participants’ interviews. The theme of help represents participants’ expectations that they will receive help on the ward, and their experiences of trying to get this help. Safety represents participants’ expectations pertaining to the ward’s function in keeping them safe, their experience of threat and strategies to keep safe. The theme of power represents participants’ experiences of power relations within the acute ward. I conclude that participants’ experiences of being a patient on the ward are characterised by feelings of frustration, concerns about safety, and the perceived need to focus on self-presentation as they attempt to reach their desired goal of discharge.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/4071
Collections
  • Health in Social Science thesis collection

Library & University Collections HomeUniversity of Edinburgh Information Services Home
Privacy & Cookies | Takedown Policy | Accessibility | Contact
Privacy & Cookies
Takedown Policy
Accessibility
Contact
feed RSS Feeds

RSS Feed not available for this page

 

 

All of ERACommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsPublication TypeSponsorSupervisorsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsPublication TypeSponsorSupervisors
LoginRegister

Library & University Collections HomeUniversity of Edinburgh Information Services Home
Privacy & Cookies | Takedown Policy | Accessibility | Contact
Privacy & Cookies
Takedown Policy
Accessibility
Contact
feed RSS Feeds

RSS Feed not available for this page