Anthropology in accident and emergency departments

Abstract

Accident and emergency departments become a meeting point for people with different concepts of health and illness. Using the phenomenologic theory, we have tried to describe and interpret the realm and ways in which these people interact. In this work we focus on the study of the culture transmission / acquisition processes between the patients and health professionals, and on the description of the scene and atmosphere in which these processes occur. The chosen method is participating observation, watching patients in the waiting room and cubicles, and wearing a uniform accompanying professionals in their duty, using the "key person" technique to be able to enter the scene of the investigation. The study was carried out during April, May and June 2001 at the Accident and Emergency Department in Elda Hospital, Alicante.

Keywords

• Antropología educativa
• Cuidados de enfermería
• Urgencias