Curating ‘soul’ in health data: A practical investigation of Arts Based Health Research examining the efficacy of public and patient engagement

Ryan-McNeill, E (2025) Curating ‘soul’ in health data: A practical investigation of Arts Based Health Research examining the efficacy of public and patient engagement. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

This study is a practical investigation of Arts Based Health Research exploring levels of participation, quality of engagement, and audience reach. It examines how ABHR can stimulate and foster meaningful and transformative participation in health research. Arts-based health research is a growing field, and researchers have long recognised that photography, visual and performing arts have benefits for patients and offer insights that cannot be expressed, documented, or shared in other ways. This research study scopes arts-based research being used in a variety of clinical and community settings, emphasising the prominence of photovoice in the field.
The research was conducted in the north of England, over a period of five academic years with two research groups: i) people living with dementia, and ii) older people in isolation during a global pandemic. The research was clearly bound by context, and the theoretical framework was underpinned by a Freirean philosophy, rooted in the idea that minority groups hold key information about how different forms of oppression can maintain power.
The methodology includes the co-creation of visual art labyrinth installations to share and gather data about lived experiences and ethnocomedy theatre was used to present findings and explore the audiences’ perceptions. The data was collected over a period of four academic years and analysed collectively using an interactive thematic approach. Through the lens of participatory research methods, the analysis, interpretation, and discussion of data were completed in collaboration with co-researchers.
Arts-based methods revealed the capacity of creative approaches to offer psychosocial benefits, such as enhanced social engagement, positive impact on relationships, and improved wellbeing. A blended arts-based approach with participatory action research provided a person-centred approach to health research, reflecting the global call to humanise healthcare and offering a framework where people are valued, and their preferences and needs are respected.
The study concludes that arts-based health research can furnish us with the resources to analyse societal issues, develop solutions, implement change in health services, improve the patient experience and transform people's lives.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Arts-Based Health Research; Participatory action research; Co-production; Dementia; Older people
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR N Fine Arts > NX Arts in general
Divisions:	Art and Design
Date of acceptance:	18 March 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	31 July 2025
Date Deposited:	31 Jul 2025 15:01
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2025 15:02
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00026212
Supervisors:	Wilkinson, C, Smith, G and Neiva, R
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26212

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