Occupational therapists' experiences of photo-supported conversations - An intervention in primary health care.

Abstract

Background: The health-promoting intervention BeWell^™, which includes photo-supported conversations, is intended for people with stress-related illnesses. Its focus is on improving the individual's health and well-being by addressing what contributes to well-being from the patient's own perspective. There is no current knowledge of the experiences of occupational therapists of using BeWell^™ in primary health care. It is thus important to gain knowledge of their experiences of using this intervention as part of investigating its feasibility.

Aim: To describe the occupational therapists' experiences of photo-supported conversations about well-being (BeWell^™) with patients diagnosed with stress-related illnesses.

Material and methods: Six occupational therapists, working in primary health care, who had conducted the photo-supported conversations about well-being (BeWell^™), were interviewed individually, and one focus group discussion was also conducted. Systematic text condensation was used as the analysis method.

Results: Three main themes with two to three subgroups in each were identified; Discovering well-being through images, Enhancing patient's own efforts towards well-being, and Contributing to one's own well-being.

Conclusions and significance: The results provide important knowledge for the continued research work with BeWell^™ by investigating how the users of the intervention experienced it.