title: Communication between people with schizophrenia and their medical professionals: a participatory research project.
abstract: The authors describe a participatory research project undertaken by a group of people with schizophrenia under the guidance of a university researcher. Participatory research involves members of the research group in meaningful participation in all stages of the research process. In this study, group members chose the topic-experiences with medical professionals-and method of data collection-in-depth interviews that they conducted with each other. They developed and performed a readers' theater presentation of the results and their recommendations for how they would like to be treated by medical professionals. The results indicate that good communication with medical professionals is essential to people with schizophrenia; it helps them accept the fact that they are ill and learn to live with the illness. The research offered a transformative experience to group members and is contributing to change in the practice of health care for people with severe mental illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scissons
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arney
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Derry
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misurelli
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunderland
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology