Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Involving people living with brain injuries and communication difficulties in service improvement: an appreciative
Ian Davies-Abbott1,2, Sara da Silva Ramos3,4, Rudi Coetzer3,5,6
1Faculty of Social & Life Sciences, Wrexham University, Wrexham, UK.
Background:
Person-centred health communication balances the contributions of service providers and users. However, people living with brain injuries typically find their voices excluded from service developments. Person-centred communication in service development promotes collaboration, self-identity and empowers services to be designed by and for their population.
Methods:
Seven people living with acquired brain injury and eight healthcare staff members from two specialist brain injury rehabilitation centres engaged in Appreciative Inquiries to develop their vision for the service and plans to move the service closer to that vision.
Results:
The narrative approach of Appreciative Inquiry supported people living with brain injuries to share a professional and personal vision for the service. Developments included vocational training and more varied therapies for patients alongside educational opportunities for staff and access to research trials. Raising public awareness was also considered an important role for the service as well as working with younger people regarding prevention.
Conclusions:
Appreciative Inquiry may be successfully used to support people living with brain injuries and communication difficulties to democratically contribute to research and service developments. Researchers and service providers should consider how it might be applied with this population and other seldom heard members of society.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis
The nursing process considers the patient's emotional and physical well-being. The process can be repeated or stopped at any point if judged essential. Assessment is the first step in the nursing...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Intellectual Disability
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...

