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An extra care community's perceived priorities for ‘whole system’ relationships: a Q‐methodological study
Author(s) -
Grimshaw Paul,
McGowan Linda,
McNichol Elaine
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1111/hsc.12417
Subject(s) - viewpoints , quality (philosophy) , compassion , psychology , underpinning , stakeholder , public relations , social psychology , sociology , applied psychology , political science , art , philosophy , civil engineering , epistemology , law , engineering , visual arts
Health and social care settings worldwide need to sustainably improve the quality of relationships across communities or ‘whole systems’. This research informs the development of a relational framework based on stakeholder perspectives. It is grounded in an action research project with practitioners, and draws on a previous literature review, to present the underpinning elements of quality relationships as statements, organised under the headings of integrity, respect, fairness, compassion and trust. Using Q methodology, 27 participants, comprising a range of stakeholders (staff, residents, family and service providers), rank‐ordered 48 statements based on perceptions of the importance of differing aspects of relationships. By‐person factor analysis was used to create five factors or viewpoints by comparing and contrasting using the composite rankings alongside interview data collected for each participant. The first view ‘Altogether now’ prioritises compassionate engagement. Second, ‘Respect is a two‐way street’ emphasises the need for reciprocal respect and recognition of history. The factor labelled ‘Free spirits’ posits the dominant view of freedom. The fourth view ‘Families … strengths and challenges’ focuses on the necessary and complex involvement of families and finally, ‘Helping hands’ emphasises the role of relationships in increasing previously low expectations of social integration for previously isolated residents. The different views that exist on the composition of quality relationships can be used to help extra care communities to understand and utilise relationships as a powerful and effective resource.