'We treat them all the same' : the experiences of nursing staff and of South Asian patients in a general hospital
'We treat them all the same' : the experiences of nursing staff and of South Asian patients in a general hospital
This phenomenological ethnographic study aimed to observe and describe the care delivered to a group of South Asian patients in a medical directorate of a general hospital from the perspectives of both nursing staff and patients. Data were gathered through fifteen semi-structured interviews on the wards and focus group interviews with forty-three nursing staff of all grades. Participant observation was also used for a period of three months when the researcher worked as a member of the nursing team. Patients' perspectives were sought through semi-structured interviews with ten patients conducted in the patients' homes ten to fourteen days following discharge from hospital. Hermeneutic analysis was used, as a means of assessing the 'real life' experiences of the participants.
Despite the progressive steps of providing 'ethnic meals' for South Asians, it appears that much of the service provided to South Asians was influenced by white dominant cultural values. Emergent themes included: 'We treat them all the same', labelling, pathologising of culture, care constructed as 'problems', evidence of institutional racism and of cultural knowledge deficits. Contradictions were found in staff participants' responses as instances of poor quality service were often mistaken for good practice. A reactive approach to coping with communication difficulties was noted, accompanied by a lack of awareness of ethical and confidential issues associated with the use of Asian hospital staff as translators.
Asian patients appeared to be initially satisfied with the medical and nursing care. Whilst some patients received the Asian menus and were allowed to wear their own clothes, others appeared to be unaware of such choices. During their stay, both patients and their relatives seemed reluctant to create difficulties for staff. Close relatives tended to visit to assist nurses with both physical care of their relatives, and with communication difficulties. Patients tried to adopt strategies to help them 'fit in' within the ward environment. Some expressed a sense of being 'alone in a crowd'. Both patients and some relatives tended to blame themselves for not being able to speak English and associated the poor quality service to their own inability to communicate with staff.
University of Southampton
1998
Vydelingum, Vasso
(1998)
'We treat them all the same' : the experiences of nursing staff and of South Asian patients in a general hospital.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This phenomenological ethnographic study aimed to observe and describe the care delivered to a group of South Asian patients in a medical directorate of a general hospital from the perspectives of both nursing staff and patients. Data were gathered through fifteen semi-structured interviews on the wards and focus group interviews with forty-three nursing staff of all grades. Participant observation was also used for a period of three months when the researcher worked as a member of the nursing team. Patients' perspectives were sought through semi-structured interviews with ten patients conducted in the patients' homes ten to fourteen days following discharge from hospital. Hermeneutic analysis was used, as a means of assessing the 'real life' experiences of the participants.
Despite the progressive steps of providing 'ethnic meals' for South Asians, it appears that much of the service provided to South Asians was influenced by white dominant cultural values. Emergent themes included: 'We treat them all the same', labelling, pathologising of culture, care constructed as 'problems', evidence of institutional racism and of cultural knowledge deficits. Contradictions were found in staff participants' responses as instances of poor quality service were often mistaken for good practice. A reactive approach to coping with communication difficulties was noted, accompanied by a lack of awareness of ethical and confidential issues associated with the use of Asian hospital staff as translators.
Asian patients appeared to be initially satisfied with the medical and nursing care. Whilst some patients received the Asian menus and were allowed to wear their own clothes, others appeared to be unaware of such choices. During their stay, both patients and their relatives seemed reluctant to create difficulties for staff. Close relatives tended to visit to assist nurses with both physical care of their relatives, and with communication difficulties. Patients tried to adopt strategies to help them 'fit in' within the ward environment. Some expressed a sense of being 'alone in a crowd'. Both patients and some relatives tended to blame themselves for not being able to speak English and associated the poor quality service to their own inability to communicate with staff.
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Published date: 1998
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Local EPrints ID: 463201
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/463201
PURE UUID: 114c6493-83df-47b8-88f1-98db292e4b31
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 20:47
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 20:47
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Author:
Vasso Vydelingum
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