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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

John Sullivan, MA, Sealy center for Environmental Health & Medicine / NIEHS, University of Texas Medical Branch @ Galveston TX, 301 University Blvd., Environmental Toxicology, Galveston, TX 77555-1110, 409-747-1247, josulliv@utmb.edu

INTRODUCTION: To compliment the Galveston TX appearance of the photo exhibit, “Denied: the Crisis of America's Uninsured” (Kashi, E, Winokur, J; 2004), the grassroots coalition, Health Care for All Texas (HCFAT), proposed interactive theatre modeled after Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed (TO). Preliminary workshop drew participants from St. Vincent's House & the Jesse Tree, Galveston charity health care clinics, UTMB / NIEHS staff and concerned community.

OBJECTIVES: 1) use images and performative tools of TO to analyze social, economic and cultural implications of health care disparities, 2) illustrate impacts of service denial, encourage empathy, 3) encourage participatory dialogue and problem-solving among audience members and performers.

POPULATION: 15 Workshop participants variable SES / Race / Ethnicity but all had direct experience with denial of access to health care. Audience (64) varied across categories, but medical students and health care professionals composed >50%.

FINDINGS:: 1) <12% of audience had direct experience with denial of care, 2) audience interventions expressed judgment that UTMB's Demand & Access Management Program (DAMP) for rationing care poses a problem for medical ethics, 3) health access disparities compromise social fabric, 4) strong ameliorative action is necessary.

CONCLUSIONS: TO Forum promoted dynamic dialogue and predisposed authentic engagement with difficult and frustrating issue. Audience demonstrated active empathy for uninsured, and will to engage policy-makers. All participants, including primary care physicians, voiced an urgent need for more detailed understanding of medical access policies. Policies should be simplified; social justice should have higher priority.

Learning Objectives: At he conclusion of this session particpants will be able to

• Articulate how embodied / particpatory framing may be used to communicate real world consequences of health policies,
• Describe how elements of Forum Theatre demonstrate linkages among health care access policies & and personal economic decisions in low income families,
• Recognize ethical dilemmas & social injustices associated with medical demand & access management policies.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Advocacy

Related Web page: www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/2005/10/acrobats_of_the.php

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation