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Details on article



Id 69
Author Ander, E.; Thomson, L.; Lanceley, A.; Menon, U.; Noble, G.
Title Heritage, Health and Wellbeing: Assessing the impact of a heritage focused intervention on health and wellbeing.
Reference

Ander, E., Thomson, L., Lanceley, A., Menon, U., Noble, G., et al. (2013). Heritage, Health and Wellbeing: Assessing the impact of a heritage focused intervention on health and wellbeing. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 19 (3), pp. 229–42;

Keywords heritage; museum; health; wellbeing; object handling; arts in hospital
Link to article https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2011.651740
Abstract Do museums and other heritage organisations have something to offer the healthcare sector? Do they have a role in improving health and wellbeing? Increasingly both heritage and healthcare organisations think they do. A broader definition of health including wellbeing and an emphasis on preventative medicine and multi-agency approaches to care within the UK’ s National Health Service, has facilitated the work of museums and galleries in this area. However, there are still few specific heritage programmes in healthcare organisations and very little evaluation of these. Here we present key findings from a qualitative evaluation of a heritage focused intervention carried out in a range of health care settings. The aim of the research project was to assess the impact on wellbeing of taking museum objects into hospitals and healthcare contexts.

Metodology Case study research, qualitative study

Findings The Heritage in Hospitals research has described the types of engagement and well-being benefits possible from a museum intervention in a healthcare context. The session recordings, patient interviews and research field note observations showed that, once patient participants were engaged, museum objects provided unique and idiosyncratic routes to stimulation and distraction. The data showed that patients used the heritage objects combined with tailored and easy social interaction, sensory stimulus and learning opportunities to tap into concerns about identity, emotions, energy levels and motivation. Participants’ reactions to handling museum objects gave an insight into why heritage objects in particular (rather than pictures or non-heritage objects) produce engagement, feelings (positive and negative) and well-being benefits. For example, heritage objects have usually been collected because they are significant.
Open Access NO
DOI 10.1080/13527258.2011.651740
Search Database Researcher knowledge
Technique Case studies; Semi-structured interview
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