title: Phenomenological shifts for healthcare professionals after experiencing a research-based drama on living with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to report research findings describing phenomenological shifts, that is, changes in patterns of lived experience, for healthcare professionals who attended a performance of a research-based drama, called I'm Still Here.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The research drama, based on six studies, was created to help change the ways persons understand, think about and relate with persons living with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006-2007, 50 healthcare professionals from various disciplines and eight nursing students participated in this study. Participants were recruited from four Canadian cities in the province of Ontario where focus groups were held before and after engaging in a live performance of I'm Still Here.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of focus group transcripts showed shifts in patterns of lived experience for the healthcare professional participants as evident in the participants' descriptions. The phenomenological shifts reflected a move from descriptions of 'diminishing humanness to discerning humanness', from 'disengaged care/mundane relating to reflexive relating in the now', and 'terrifying portrayals of loss to awakening to hopeful possibility'. The shifts described herein are supported with examples from the focus group transcripts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings reveal the power of drama as a vibrant and meaningful means of shifting understandings, images and intended actions of healthcare professions which have the potential to affect the lived experiences, relationships and quality of life of persons with dementia.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. jonasimp@yorku.ca
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jonas-Simpson
authors.forename: Gail J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillies
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D032882:Comprehension; D003704:Dementia; D004324:Drama; D004645:Empathy; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*