Steven Robert Dodd

Orientating disability studies to disablist austerity: applying Fraser’s insights

Abstract Many disabled people in Britain have experienced profound challenges brought about by a government policy programme characterised by ‘austerity’. Drawing on the work of Fraser and Polanyi, this article explores new ways in which disability studies can become theoretically orientated to the task of explaining and challenging what has become an issue of overbearing importance for many disabled people. It is argued that Fraser’s notion of bivalency encapsulates the combination of cultural and economic challenges which characterise ‘disablist austerity’. Fraser’s development of Polanyi’s work is used to argue that disability studies should be orientated to large-scale economic challenges as well as cultural and discursive concerns that are more often the object of study in the field.

O-15 Volunteer befriending services: lessons from a randomised controlled trial on who accesses these services and how to maximise service impact

Background Volunteer provided befriending or good neighbour services are an increasingly common element of hospice provision. However little is known about who accesses such services, nor their impact. The ELSA study is a large trial of volunteer befriending services across England, with an aim of evaluating the effectiveness of receiving care. Aim To report data on who was referred to and used the befriending services provided as part of this trial. Methods A wait-list controlled trial (ELSA) with nested qualitative case studies, with patients randomly allocated to intervention (immediate receipt of volunteering intervention) or wait list arm (four week wait for intervention). Patients (estimated to be in their last year of life) referred to volunteer befriending services across 11 end of life care providers in England. Trial data were collected at baseline, 4, 8 (12) weeks to explore quality of life as our primary outcome, with loneliness and social support as secondary outcomes. Baseline data were collected on personal characteristics and social networks. Trial registered: ISRCTN 12929812 Results Service referrals (n = 369) resulted in 195 people entering the study. Patients mean age 72 years, 61% female, 84% retired, 58% living alone, 90% white ethnicity, 50% with cancer. No significant differences on quality of life at baseline were observed between genders, but as age increases, scores on social, psychological and environmental sub scales worsen (ps. < 0.01). Age and living alone were significant predictors of lower environment scores (ps. < 0.01). Quality of life scores were lower than those of comparator populations. Conclusion This study is the first to examine volunteer befriending in a trial context, and describe the characteristics of those receiving care. Services appear appropriately targeted to vulnerable older adults who live alone, and potentially accessed by a wider range of people than other hospice services. Funded by the UK Cabinet Office. See also poster presentation #205.