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Published on: October 28, 2020
Tacit knowledge of caring and embodied selfhood
1Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, ON, Canada. kontos.pia@torontorehab.on.ca
Sociology of Health & Illness
|April 28, 2009
Summary
Embodied selfhood, not just clinical practice, is crucial for tacit knowledge in dementia care. This study highlights the body
Area of Science:
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Sociology
Background:
- Tacit knowledge is vital for clinical decision-making, but current paradigms overlook embodied selfhood.
- Existing focus on practice-based knowledge neglects the socio-cultural significance of the body in care.
- Embodied selfhood forms the foundation for tacit knowledge of caring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of embodied selfhood in the tacit knowledge of caring within dementia care.
- To expand the understanding of tacit knowledge beyond clinical practice.
- To explore the body as a source of foundational knowledge in caregiving.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 43 dementia care practitioners in Ontario, Canada.
- Utilized research-based drama and focus group methodology.
- Analysis grounded in Merleau-Ponty's perception and Bourdieu's habitus theories.
Main Results:
- Embodied selfhood is fundamental to the tacit knowledge of caring.
- Findings reveal the body as a primary site for the development of caring knowledge.
- The study demonstrates how socio-cultural aspects of selfhood inform tacit caring knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Embodied selfhood is essential for developing and manifesting tacit knowledge in dementia care.
- The body is a critical, yet often neglected, site for the production of tacit knowledge.
- Further research into the body's role in tacit knowledge creation is recommended.
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