The Difference an Occupational Therapy Department makes: photovoice research

Background: People admitted to acute inpatient mental health units have fast-changing needs and require high levels of care and interventions, including occupational therapy (National Institute for Health and Clinical... [ view full abstract ]

Background: People admitted to acute inpatient mental health units have fast-changing needs and require high levels of care and interventions, including occupational therapy (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2011). Previous research in this setting, which had a well-resourced occupational therapy department, indicated its importance for service users: Leaving the ward represented a significant step in their recovery.
Method: To investigate further, funded research focused on specific areas of the department from the perspectives of an action research group of service users. They met on a weekly basis, facilitated by a research occupational therapist and a service user researcher. An emancipatory visual method, photovoice, was used (Lal et al 2012), with participants taking photographs of the kitchen, art room, gym and internet café. They worked in cycles of action and reflection to analyse the photographs.
Results:The findings comprise of a set of images and statements capturing important experiences, synthesised to present a rich understanding of occupational therapy in this setting. This presentation will outline the findings and provide critical discussion of this collaborative approach to research.
Conclusion: The approach to this research was successful in actively engaging service users and generating findings for improving local services. As an occupational form, the research mirrored the culture of occupational therapy by being person-centred, within an activity-based group.
Application to Practice: By adopting such an approach occupational therapists can demonstrate their commitment to improving services and challenge initiatives which do not sufficiently acknowledge how services are experienced and delivered.