Folklore as a Health Patterning Modality

Mary Augusta Joseph, City University of New York, Graduate Center

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Lived Experience of Folklore Practice as a Health Patterning Modality

By

Mary Augusta Joseph MSN RN AHN-BC

Adviser: Dr. Donna M. Nickitas

The lived experience of folklore practices as a health patterning modality may have meaning for nursing science. This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study was designed to uncover and understand the meaning and experiences of Afro-Caribbean people who used folklore practices as a health patterning modality. Fourteen participants of Afro-Caribbean heritage participated in in-depth interviews, during which they described their experiences and the meaning of folklore as a health and healing modality. The researcher used van Manen's phenomenological approach as the methodology for reflection and interpretation of the findings. The findings revealed that folklore practice is a phenomenon with six interconnected essential themes. Furthermore, the researcher used Barrett's nursing theory of power as knowing participation in change to reflect on the findings from a nursing perspective. The research findings have implications for nursing science and the knowledge gleaned from the study may be applied to nursing practice. Further research is recommended on the phenomenon of folklore practice as a health patterning modality.