Public involvement in data analysis for the TOUS study

The TOUS study (Tailoring cultural offers with and for diverse older users of social prescribing) is coming towards its conclusion. This is now a time to gather feedback from public involvement group members on ideas being produced from the research. To do this, I have been talking to people about what we have found out from data collection in 1-2-1 conversations and in a group meeting.

One to one meetings

Three public involvement group members provided feedback 1:2:1 on early concepts created from data. Each practised a different religion (Christianity, Islam and Hinduism) and different art form (singing, visual arts and dancing). They were asked to rate how important concepts were to their own lived experiences. Examples included the importance of the physical environment, a welcoming organising team, types of food available, content of the creative activity and how it was delivered. They discussed how important these concepts were relative to each other to create the right context for encouraging people to engage with cultural activities. They also discussed what is considered acceptable for people with different religious and cultural beliefs. For example, it was suggested that many older Muslim women wouldn’t find it culturally acceptable to take part in a play if there was a mixed gender cast, performing for a mixed audience and/or if it included scenes where drinking alcohol or gambling were depicted.

A group meeting

Seven older women with Indian, Pakistani and Afro-Caribbean heritage provided feedback on concepts that had been developed from data collected for the TOUS study. They made the following comments about what matters to ethnic minority older people when engaging in the arts:

• Importance of social aspects and going out and meeting people. Peer support networks are formed. People look out for each other if someone is starting to isolate.
• Creative engagement can take place in many different settings like a charity event or a religious centre.
• Companionship and being able to go with a friend. This often counteracts lack of confidence in taking part in an activity.
• Feeling welcomed and not alone - surrounded by cliques. It was suggested that people may go to activities but not integrate with others; staying within their cultural group.
• The pandemic was difficult for many people living alone as they did not have many chances to see friends and family, particularly when clinically vulnerable. Being able to take part in activities online was really important for wellbeing during this time.
• Access to the venue and toilet for people with mobility issues are important considerations.

As part of this meeting, participants engaged with the life histories of three women who had taken part in the TOUS study. They were from different cultural backgrounds and had started engaging with the arts at a later stage in life. Participants were very fond of all three women and could see themselves in all of them. They pointed out that resourcefulness and steadfastness were common among women, particularly working-class women who have to make ends meet and raise a family while holding onto many jobs.

Collages

All participants were provided with an A3 sheet of paper and print outs in large fonts of the life histories of the three women. They were asked to cut out sentences from these life histories that they found interesting/evocative/meaningful. They used these to create a collage; it represented their interpretation of findings drawing on their own lived experiences. They noted how there were sad/negative elements to these stories (feeling alone, feeling stupid) and happier/more positive ones (the promotion of diversity, feeling pride in oneself, use of humour to cope). The women’s stories brought to mind ideas of strength through adversity, flexibility, health, support, opportunity, learning, tenacity. 

Reflections

Providing the time and space over dinner for a face-to-face meeting and using creative methods allowed these seven women to engage with the materials on a deeper level and to provide insights that wouldn’t have been made known through a question-and-answer online session. Their insights are helping the research team to reflect on data they have collected and concepts they are developing.

The study mentioned in this blog is funded by a grant from UK Research and Innovation (MR/Y010000/1). The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the funder or the author’s host institution.