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Wicked problems or wicked people? Reconceptualising institutional abuse
Diane Burns1, Paula Hyde, Anne Killett
1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich. diane.burns@uea.ac.uk
Sociology of Health & Illness
|August 18, 2012
Summary
Institutional abuse is a complex global problem, often misunderstood. This study reveals that solutions intended to improve care quality in residential settings can inadvertently create new challenges, highlighting its wicked nature.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Healthcare Management
- Gerontology
Background:
- Institutional abuse is a persistent global issue, inadequately addressed by current regulations and interventions.
- Existing research offers limited insight into the underlying causes and recurrence of abuse within care settings.
- Vulnerable individuals in institutions require effective recognition, early detection, and perpetrator management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze how institutional abuse is conceptualized within care settings.
- To reframe institutional abuse using the 'wicked problem' framework.
- To understand the multifaceted nature of abuse in residential care.
Main Methods:
- Application of Rittel and Webber's tame and wicked problem analysis.
- Qualitative case study analysis of eight care homes for older people.
- Examination of care quality improvement initiatives and their unintended consequences.
Main Results:
- Institutional abuse exhibits characteristics of a 'wicked problem,' being complex and resistant to simple solutions.
- Interventions aimed at reducing abuse and enhancing care quality can generate unforeseen negative outcomes.
- The formulation of institutional abuse in care settings is multifaceted and recurring.
Conclusions:
- Institutional abuse in residential care settings is a 'wicked problem' due to its complex, interconnected, and persistent nature.
- Effective strategies must acknowledge and address the inherent complexities rather than seeking simplistic solutions.
- A 'wicked problem' lens offers a more accurate understanding of residential care provision challenges.
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