Being patient, being vulnerable: exploring experiences of general practice waiting rooms through elicited drawings

For members of vulnerable populations, articulating feelings and emotions about a place to a cultural outsider may be challenging. This article describes a study using participatory visual methodology, in which participants were invited to create drawings to explore their experiences as patients in general practice waiting rooms, and interacting with receptionists. Set in New Zealand, the Pākehā (white) male researcher used a traditional meeting protocol (hui process) as a process for trust building with the participants; most were Māori, many were female, of a different age group, and had mental health vulnerabilities. As well as explaining the research, the preamble to the interviews also involved making family connections, gift giving and a mutual sharing of ideas. Elicited drawings provided the framework for conversational interviews. Colour, materials, symbols and metaphors were jointly explored through a process of shared analysis of images created. Through this process, participants reflected on, and conceptualised, ideas that addressed disempowerment, discrimination and racism. Key to the project’s success was the adoption of a culturally safe approach and willingness on the part of the researcher and participants to not only trust the process, but also be patient and vulnerable – in a context in which being a vulnerable patient prevails.