(AH/V015877/1) Follow-on: Communicating through Covid in General Practice
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Sch of Medicine & Dentistry
Abstract
This project builds on the impact of research that has demonstrated how arts-based methods can be used to support non-verbal communication and demonstrate the gains from collaboration between the health and arts sectors in building more resilient, sustainable health systems. Over the past 2 years, Performing Medicine has investigated the communication challenges faced by health care professionals over the pandemic, and has implemented co-created interventions across two NHS Trusts and one medical school to improve interactions between colleagues and patients, and to help with recovery and renewal after two years of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. In this interdisciplinary project, it was found that arts-based strategies can play an integral role in healthcare professionals' recovery from the pandemic, offering managers viable strategies to build understanding and bringing teams together who have been fragmented by the challenges of Covid-19; playing a critical role in creating more compassionate, sustainable healthcare.
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on primary care across the UK, causing a number of knock-on effects as GPs are often the first point of call for the unwell. With social distancing rules, new reliance on hybrid working, and poor public attitudes towards staff, there is an exceptional burden on GPs. The impact of this is being seen through staff shortages and high staff attrition, with many GPs feeling burnout. Over the past two years GPs have radically changed their practice, and will be crucial players in tackling the health care burden that has grown in the past two years, highlighting why investment in this group will be valuable.
This Follow-on proposal responds to the needs of the primary care community, delivering a programme of 10 half-day in situ workshops and 10 one-hour sessions of online coaching to staff across England, that have been specifically adapted for this group. Workshops will help staff develop a language for self-care, non-verbal communication and spatial awareness, focusing particularly on video and telephone conversation coaching. The programme will nurture respect and understanding of different experiences of the pandemic through visual storytelling, theatre games, dance warm-ups, writing exercises, creative mapping, collective collages, and group conversations.
A knowledge exchange seminar and webinar, will provide a space for the primary care community to learn more about the value of the arts, and will help build a GP cultural ambassadors programme that will be supported by Performing Medicine. The project will end with a short report that will outline mutual strategies/opportunities for Integrated Care Systems to embed arts and culture in a bid to sustain healthcare people and systems, and be a catalyst for positive action.
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on primary care across the UK, causing a number of knock-on effects as GPs are often the first point of call for the unwell. With social distancing rules, new reliance on hybrid working, and poor public attitudes towards staff, there is an exceptional burden on GPs. The impact of this is being seen through staff shortages and high staff attrition, with many GPs feeling burnout. Over the past two years GPs have radically changed their practice, and will be crucial players in tackling the health care burden that has grown in the past two years, highlighting why investment in this group will be valuable.
This Follow-on proposal responds to the needs of the primary care community, delivering a programme of 10 half-day in situ workshops and 10 one-hour sessions of online coaching to staff across England, that have been specifically adapted for this group. Workshops will help staff develop a language for self-care, non-verbal communication and spatial awareness, focusing particularly on video and telephone conversation coaching. The programme will nurture respect and understanding of different experiences of the pandemic through visual storytelling, theatre games, dance warm-ups, writing exercises, creative mapping, collective collages, and group conversations.
A knowledge exchange seminar and webinar, will provide a space for the primary care community to learn more about the value of the arts, and will help build a GP cultural ambassadors programme that will be supported by Performing Medicine. The project will end with a short report that will outline mutual strategies/opportunities for Integrated Care Systems to embed arts and culture in a bid to sustain healthcare people and systems, and be a catalyst for positive action.
