Narrative and stories in health care : illness, dying, and bereavement / edited by Yasmin Gunaratnam, David Oliviere.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gunaratnam, Yasmin.

Oliviere, David

Class of 1932 Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Palliative treatment.

Narrative therapy.

Physical Description:

xii, 246 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2009.

Summary:

The use of narrative methods has a long history in palliative care; pioneered by Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the hospice movement. Patient stories can be used to make sense of experiences of illness and care, to create and express meaning, to mediate and reconstruct identifications, and to encapsulate the complex relationships between the individual and their wider social and material contexts. Modern palliative care encourages user empowerment and involvement in end of life care strategies, with patient narratives becoming a powerful lobbying tool, and 'personalized care' emerging as a significant agenda.

This multidisciplinary book provides a vibrant examination of work with narrative and stories in contemporary health and social care, with a focus on the care of people who are ill and dying. It animates the academic literature with provocative 'real-world' examples from international contributors, including palliative care service users and those working in the social and human sciences, medicine, theology, and the creative arts. It addresses and clarifies core issues: what is a narrative? What is a story? What are some of the main methods and models that can be used and for what purposes? What practical and ethical dilemmas can the methods entail when working with illness, death, and dying? How does a researcher or clinician recognize and interpret the meanings and/or experiences that can be manifest in patient and carer stories? As well as highlighting the power of stories to create new possibilities, this book also acknowledges the problems inherent in narrative work, and the importance of the ethics surrounding it.

As the hospice and palliative care movement evolves to meet the challenges of 21st century health care and end of life care, Narrative and Stories in Health Care: illness, dying, and bereavement highlights how narratives and stories can be worked with in ways that are rigorous, productive, ethical, and caring. It will be fascinating reading for the whole palliative care team, as well as service providers and researchers working with the dying patient. The wider engagement with narrative will also be of relevance to those working in health and social care, social sciences, and the humanities.

Contents:

Section 1 Concepts and approaches

1 Narrative machinery / John Paley 17

2 The possibilities of narrative palliative care medicine: 'Giving Sorrow Words' / Sayantani DasGupta, Craig Irvine, Maura Spiegel 33

3 Narrative interviews and research / Yasmin Gunaratnam 47

4 Narrative-based evidence in palliative care / Kim Devery 63

5 Therapeutic writing: 'writing is a way of saying things I can't say' / Gillie Bolton 79

Section 2 Services and care

6 Narrative, story, and service evaluation - patients' stories and their consequences / Gail Eva 95

7 Narrative and storytelling in palliative care education and training / Karen Forbes 111

8 Patient and carer narratives and stories / Phil Cotterell, Helen Findlay, Ann Macfarlane 127

9 Mediator deathwork / Tony Walter 143

Section 3 Working with Patients and Carers

10 The necessity and dangers of illness narratives, especially at the end of life / Arthur W. Frank 161

11 Life story and life review / Irene Renzenbrink 177

12 The meaning of illness and symptoms / Jonathan Koffman 193

13 Spiritual care and attentiveness to narrative / Rachel Stanworth 207

14 Bereavement, children, and families / Patsy Way 221.

Notes:

Includes index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Class of 1932 Fund.

ISBN:

9780199546695

019954669X

OCLC:

294885655

Publisher Number:

99934790840