Language and Cultural Awareness in Health and Social Care Group

Theme Group

Our research focuses on 3 areas:

Language Awareness in Health and Social Care

This research is concerned with the measurement and development of language awareness at the individual and organisational level in health and social care. Commissioned research includes a national study to obtain a sector wide overview of the levels of Welsh language awareness amongst professionals in the public, private and voluntary sectors; and a scoping study to determine the need for a national health and social care research network for Welsh language awareness

See the Llais project website www.llais.org

Bilingualism in Early Years

The main focus of this research is the development of bilingualism within early years. This includes the study of early reading and phonological awareness skills. More recently, commissioned research includes an evaluation of the Twf project, a Welsh Language Board initiative on language transmission in the family, and the role of professionals in promoting bilingualism amongst young children.

Language Awareness in the Professional Domain

This work focuses on enhancing language awareness amongst professionals in the caring and education sectors through the development of appropriate resources and support structures. In collaboration with Canolfan Bedwyr, UWB, commissioned research includes the establishment of a range of standardised bilingual healthcare terminologies and teaching packs to support practitioners in their role as mentors and facilitators of language choice. A further government funded initiative provides an infrastructure support service that offers advice and consultancy on enhancing language awareness in research and development in health and social care.

Related Publications

Hanley, J. R., Masterson, J., Spencer, L. H., & Evans, D. (2004). How long do the advantages of learning to read a transparent orthography last? An investigation of the reading skills and reading impairment of Welsh children at 10 years of age. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 57A, 8, 1393-1410.

Irvine, F. E., Roberts, G. W., Jones, P. R., Spencer, L. H., Baker, C. R., and Williams, C. (2006). Communicative sensitivity in the bilingual healthcare setting: A qualitative study of language awareness. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(4), 1-13.

Muntz, R. Prys, C., Tudor Edwards, R., and Roberts, G. (2004). Systematic Development and Testing of a Welsh Language Version of the EQ-5D Health Related Quality of Life Measure, University of Wales, Bangor.

Prys, D, Roberts, G. W., and Paden, L. (2004). Geiriadur Bydwragedd Bailliere (Argraffiad Cymraeg 1af). University of Wales, Bangor.
Roberts, G. W., and Prys, D (Eds.) (1997) Termau Nyrsio a Bydwreigiaeth/An English-Welsh Dictionary of Nursing and Midwifery Terms (2nd Edition) University of Wales, Bangor.

Roberts, G. W., and Paden, L. (2000). Identifying the factors influencing minority language use in healthcare education: a European perspective. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 1 75-83.

Roberts, G (2003) Mentora yn y Lleoliad Dwyieithog / Mentoring in the Bilingual Setting. Prifysgol Bangor/University of Wales, Bangor.
Roberts, G. W., Kent, B., Prys, D., and Lewis, R. . (2003). . Describing Chronic Pain: Towards Bilingual Practice. . International Journal of Nursing Studies, 40, 889-902.

Roberts, G. & Williams, C. (2003) Gair o Gysur / Words of Comfort. Prifysgol Bangor / UWB, Bangor. http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/documents/415/Gair-o-Gysur-pdf.pdf
Roberts, G. W., Irvine, F. E., Jones, P. R., Spencer, L. H., Baker, C. R., and Williams, C. (2004). Report of a Study of Welsh Language Awareness in Healthcare Provision in Wales. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff.

Roberts, G. W., Irvine, F. E., Richardson, J., Earles, C., Gareth, E., and Prys, R. (2005). Report on a Scoping Study of Language Awareness in Health and Social Care. University of Wales, Bangor.

Roberts, G. W., Irvine, F. E., Jones, P. R., Spencer, L. H., Baker, C. R., and Williams, C. (Under review). Language awareness in the bilingual healthcare setting: a national survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies.

Spencer, L. H., and Hanley, J. R. (2003). The Effects of Orthographic Consistency on Reading Development and Phonological Awareness; Evidence from Children Learning to Read in Wales. British Journal of Psychology, 94, 1-28.

Spencer, L. H., Edwards, M., Prys, D. & Thomas, E. M. (Eds.) (2004). Geiriadur Termau Seicoleg/Dictionary of Terms for Psychology. School of Psychology, University of Wales, Bangor. ISBN: 1 84220 0283.

Spencer, L. H., & Hanley, J.R. (2004). Learning a transparent orthography at five years old: reading development of children during their first year of formal reading instruction in Wales. Journal of Research in Reading, 27 (1), 1-14.

Spencer, L. H., Roberts, G. W., Irvine, F. E., Jones, P. R., and Baker, C. R. (Under review). Using cluster analysis to explore survey data. Nurse Researcher.

Related Grant Capture

2005 Wales Office of Research and Development*

*Total award to be confirmed

Infrastructure Support Service to enhance Language Awareness in Health and Social Care
Principal Investigators: Gwerfyl Roberts & Dr Fiona Irvine

2005 £214,000, Welsh Language Board

Twf and Onwards: Impact Assessment and the Way Forward
Principal Investigator: Dr Fiona Irvine

2005 £14,000, Wales Office of Research and Development

Scoping study of language awareness in health and social care
Principal Investigators: Gwerfyl Roberts & Dr Fiona Irvine

2003 £89,000, Welsh Assembly Government

A study of Welsh language awareness in healthcare provision in Wales
Principal Investigator: Gwerfyl Roberts

2000 £5,000, North Wales Research and Development Committee

Chronic pain assessment amongst bilingual patients
Principal Investigator: Gwerfyl Roberts

1999 £48,000, ESRC Project Grant

How long do the advantages of learning to read a transparent orthography last?
Principal Investigators: Professor Rick Hanley, Dr Jackie Masterson, and Dr Llinos Spencer

1997 £11,500, European Commission

Promoting European Minority Languages in Health Education
Principal Investigator: Gwerfyl Roberts