Date of Award
1995
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Master of Nursing
School
School of Nursing
Faculty
Faculty of Health and Human Sciences
First Supervisor
Dr Anne Murray
Abstract
The study reported in this thesis describes and analyses the experience of 15 men with long term mental illness, living and/or working at a rural farm and hostel complex. The research was set in the context of recent studies and literature focussing on the transfer of care of people with mental illness from large psychiatric hospitals to community based care and the consequent quality of life issues. A phenomenological approach was chosen as the most appropriate for the study, in order to understand the meaning of the residents' experience. Data was obtained from three sources: in-depth interviews with 2 key informants, 50 hours participant observation involving 15 residents and 8 staff and focussed or semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. The Ethnograph computer program was utilised to facilitate and expedite analysis of the resulting large volume of data.
Recommended Citation
Van Aken, R. R. (1995). Life at a rural psychiatric hostel : The experience of a group of male residents. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1461