Emergency department staff perceptions of representation through an observational documentary series

The representation of healthcare professionals in television has been subject to critique due to the depictions of stereotypical tropes between professional disciplines. Production of factual television programs requires healthcare professionals to perform their roles for a diverse audience, and ideally presents an accurate portrayal of patient care.

We used an anonymous mixed-method survey framed by symbolic interactionism and Goffman's theory of presentation of self to explore how staff negotiate representation during the filming of an observational documentary in an Emergency Department. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using thematic analysis.

In total 105 staff completed the survey, predominantly nurses and physicians. They reported mixed responses to the impact of filming on professional performance and clinical care. Two themes from the qualitative data revealed that staff sought ideal representation through television production, while also being required to engage in additional work to adjust to the filming team, manage team dynamics, and provide appropriate patient care.

Filming of documentaries provides the opportunity for healthcare professionals to engage in representation. However, there is a need to challenge dominant depictions of medical-nursing hierarchies, and present a broader variety of clinical presentations.