Research Notes
Poems in the Waiting Room (PitWR) aims to explore the broad socio-economic aspects of poetry in the community and the related topics of poetry and therapy and arts in health activity generally. In this we are part of a growing interest in Arts in Health research: much of which is co-ordinated by the National Alliance for Arts Health and Wellbeing.
Our own studies are published as a series of free to download Research Notes: those published to date are described below.
The wide distribution of PitWR poetry pamphlets makes it also an exceptional vehicle for research into a variety of topics extending far beyond issues related to poetry. PitWR is open to proposals to collaborate with suitable research organisations that may wish to use PitWR information as a medium for specific research.
Our own studies are published as a series of free to download Research Notes: those published to date are described below.
The wide distribution of PitWR poetry pamphlets makes it also an exceptional vehicle for research into a variety of topics extending far beyond issues related to poetry. PitWR is open to proposals to collaborate with suitable research organisations that may wish to use PitWR information as a medium for specific research.
We are looking for a self-funded researcher to update the survey of the socio-economic status of areas served by our poetry card scheme, originally undertaken in 2003 and 2004 (Research Notes One and Three).
Please Contact us if this would be of interest.
Latest Research
Research Note 7: Poetry in a general practice setting. 2014 survey of Welsh surgeries in the PitWR scheme.
This research note reports on how 'Poems in the Waiting Room' used the generous grant of £9,000 provided by the Ashley Family Foundation over three years 2012 to 2014 to supply short collections of poems for patients to read while waiting to see their doctor. The project focussed on NHS General Practice in Wales.
The note summarises the results of a postal survey of practice managers receiving the Poems in the Waiting Room poetry card service in 2012-14. Over 50% of respondents assessed that the poetry cards either perceptibly or noticeably added value to the patients visit, a benefit far outweighing the cost of supplying the poetry cards.
Research Note 7: Poetry in a general practice setting. 2014 survey of Welsh surgeries in the PitWR scheme.
This research note reports on how 'Poems in the Waiting Room' used the generous grant of £9,000 provided by the Ashley Family Foundation over three years 2012 to 2014 to supply short collections of poems for patients to read while waiting to see their doctor. The project focussed on NHS General Practice in Wales.
The note summarises the results of a postal survey of practice managers receiving the Poems in the Waiting Room poetry card service in 2012-14. Over 50% of respondents assessed that the poetry cards either perceptibly or noticeably added value to the patients visit, a benefit far outweighing the cost of supplying the poetry cards.

Research Note 7 Poetry in a General Practice Setting Jan 2016 | |
File Size: | 94 kb |
File Type: |
Research Notes 1-6
Research Note One (April 2003) Socio-economic Classification of Neighbourhoods Served assessed the socio-economic characters of the some 290 neighbourhoods then served by General Practices then taking PitWR. It found that the scheme had established strong appeal throughout the whole range of social groupings, including strong representation in hard pressed neighbourhoods.. The survey was subsequently updated for the substantially larger mailing list by Research Note Three.
Research Note Two (February 2004) Studies in Poetry Therapy reviews a range of studies by practitioners of poetry therapy, mainly in the USA. The Note describes features of poetry that may prove especially beneficial, and concludes that the poems may act as an adjuvant to a conventional medical consultation.
Research Note Three (November 2004) Socio-economic Classification of Neighbourhoods Served: Update General Practice Waiting Rooms Autumn 2004 updates Note One on the socio-economic character of PitWR neighbourhoods. The circulation list had then expanded to some 975 general practices surgeries. It found that the greatly expanded PitWR had retained its appeal across a wide spectrum of social and economic diversity The general picture suggests that the wide diversity of socio-economic structures in the community, reflecting in turn greatly different economic, cultural and educational backgrounds, plays little part in decisions by general practitioners to provide PitWR poetry pamphlets for their patients. Further, the use of the NHS as a vehicle has resulted in widespread diffusion of poetry pamphlets, reaching into areas and neighbourhood types which suffer hardship and which may well be generally lacking in cultural resources.
Research Note Four (March 2005) Survey of General Practice with PitWR summarises the findings of a postal survey of GP Practices that receive PitWR. It presents findings from some 231 GP practices plus 26 from other related waiting rooms. It looks at the uptake of poetry pamphlets; their content and their potential value to patients. The findings confirm that the scheme has captured the interest of both staff and clients. The willingness of patients and clients to take the pamphlets away indicates that the project has attained its prime objective of promoting poetry and making the patient's wait a little more pleasant. The replies confirm the letters of appreciation written by patients. The current mixing works from the canon with contemporary works is heavily supported. The great majority of respondents were strongly of the opinion that the poetry pamphlets enhanced the value of the patient's visit to the waiting room.
Research Note Five (April 2006) Cost Benefit Poems in the Waiting Room presents a formal cost benefit analysis of PitWR. It reviews first related policies issues , bearing on assessment of benefit, in art and culture and the health services. It adopts patient satisfaction as the measure of benefit. It finds that if PitWR were funded to serve some two thousand GP Practices, the estimated saturation level, the quarterly distribution would reach some 60,000 poetry cards; the budget cost is estimated at £25,000 a year. From the estimates of enhanced values for each card, using survey findings, the total sum of benefits would range from some £168,000 to £201,600 annually . The benefits far outweigh the scheme's costs, yielding annually some £143,000 to some £176,600 net.
Research Note Six (March 2010) Poetry in Health reviews a survey of projects. It identifies a variety of issues, especially the failure to establish these projects as programmes which provide continuity. Being a poet is not sufficient. Poets need to be therapists or therapists poets. An enduring problem concerns evaluation. Lacking nay formal system that works, the Note suggests that the growing body of appreciative comments by patients should be taken as substantiating the value of Poetry in Health.
Research Notes One to Six used the skills and expertise of Lee Donaldson Associates, the professional economic consultancy of the founding editor of Poems in the Waiting Room, Michael Lee, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultancy. His Clients included the Secretary of State for Health in 1984 (on future funding of the NHS), the Department of Health, various research bodies such as the Policy Studies Institute, the Centre for Policy Studies and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

Research Notes 1-6 | |
File Size: | 327 kb |
File Type: |