Amabel Mortimer | Birmingham City University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Amabel Mortimer

Title: Photo Making in Hospice: Can the Process of Constructing Portrait Photographs Restore ... more Title:
Photo Making in Hospice: Can the Process of Constructing Portrait Photographs Restore the Changed Self-image that Accompanies the Diagnosis of a Life-limiting Illness?

Author(s):

Mortimer A.J.1,2, Day R.1, Broom K.2, Perkins P.1,3

Institute(s):

1Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, Day Hospice, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, 2Birmingham City University, Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Palliative Medicine, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Presenting author email address: ami.mortimer@virginmedia.com

Background:
Photography and self-portraits have been used in healthcare, yet no study has documented the experiences of hospice patients' participation. Our hospice has recently started to offer patients the option to make self-portraits/portrait photographs.

Aims:
To explore the lived experiences of day hospice patients participating in the self-directed photographic portraiture experience.

Methods:
Audio-taped semi-structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using narrative analysis. Seven respondents were interviewed: three patients, two hospice staff observers and two photographers. Fourteen interviews were conducted - each participant was interviewed before and after the photographic session.

Results:
The following themes were identified during analysis:
The participants constructed photographs to represent who they are rather than focussing on their illness.
Participants chose not to reinforce the more negative elements of illness progression but rather to accept them.
Life-limiting illness, ageing and treatments damage the patient's sense of self. This may be experienced as a form of grief or loss.

Conclusion/discussion:
Patients provided unique insights into the experiences of changes that come with life limiting illnesses, articulating losses that resulted. In all cases the patients felt a profound difference between the image they held of themselves and the photographs they created. Patients said they benefited from this methodology of reflective photographic self-portraiture. This study straddles both arts and healthcare. The results have helped shape this intervention for future patients.

Example of evaluation word envelopes, each participant writes down one word that they feel was im... more Example of evaluation word envelopes, each participant writes down one word that they feel was important to them during the project. Each participant then gets an envelope filled with the words to take away with them.

Title: Photo Making in Hospice: Can the Process of Constructing Portrait Photographs Restore ... more Title:
Photo Making in Hospice: Can the Process of Constructing Portrait Photographs Restore the Changed Self-image that Accompanies the Diagnosis of a Life-limiting Illness?

Author(s):

Mortimer A.J.1,2, Day R.1, Broom K.2, Perkins P.1,3

Institute(s):

1Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, Day Hospice, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, 2Birmingham City University, Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Palliative Medicine, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Presenting author email address: ami.mortimer@virginmedia.com

Background:
Photography and self-portraits have been used in healthcare, yet no study has documented the experiences of hospice patients' participation. Our hospice has recently started to offer patients the option to make self-portraits/portrait photographs.

Aims:
To explore the lived experiences of day hospice patients participating in the self-directed photographic portraiture experience.

Methods:
Audio-taped semi-structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using narrative analysis. Seven respondents were interviewed: three patients, two hospice staff observers and two photographers. Fourteen interviews were conducted - each participant was interviewed before and after the photographic session.

Results:
The following themes were identified during analysis:
The participants constructed photographs to represent who they are rather than focussing on their illness.
Participants chose not to reinforce the more negative elements of illness progression but rather to accept them.
Life-limiting illness, ageing and treatments damage the patient's sense of self. This may be experienced as a form of grief or loss.

Conclusion/discussion:
Patients provided unique insights into the experiences of changes that come with life limiting illnesses, articulating losses that resulted. In all cases the patients felt a profound difference between the image they held of themselves and the photographs they created. Patients said they benefited from this methodology of reflective photographic self-portraiture. This study straddles both arts and healthcare. The results have helped shape this intervention for future patients.

Example of evaluation word envelopes, each participant writes down one word that they feel was im... more Example of evaluation word envelopes, each participant writes down one word that they feel was important to them during the project. Each participant then gets an envelope filled with the words to take away with them.