Notes on contributors:Erica Ander is Research Assistant on the UCL Heritage in Hospitals research project. She also works as a museum and heritage consultant specialising in visitor studies and audience research. Her research interests include qualitative methodologies to capture cultural outcomes and health and wellbeing issues in the museum sector. Here we present key findings from a qualitative evaluation of a heritage focused intervention carried out in a range of health care settings. The aim of the research project was to assess the impact on wellbeing of taking museum objects into hospitals and healthcare contexts.

Introduction:The study investigated the impact of museum object handling sessions on hospital clients receiving occupational therapy in neurological rehabilitation and in an older adult acute inpatient mental health service.Methods: The research used a qualitative approach based on objectivist and constructionist methods, from which themes typical of the object handling sessions were derived.Results: Themes emerging from detailed analysis of discourse involving clients (n = 82) and healthcare staff (n = 8) comprised: distraction and decreasing negative emotion; increasing vitality and participation; tactile stimulation; conversational and social skills; increasing a sense of identity; novel perspectives and thoughts; learning new things; enjoyment and positive emotion. Critical success factors included good session facilitation for mitigating insecurity, ward staff support and the use of authentic heritage objects.Conclusion: Museums and their collections can be a valuable addition to cultural and arts occupations, in particular for long-stay hospital clients.

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Findings indicate a future role for heritage-focused practices in enhancing health care environments.