Launch of ‘hospital radio’ in Japan: Strengthening patient–staff bonding

Abstract

Hospital radio is a form of audio broadcasting for in-patients produced by volunteer staff. This study examines hospital radio’s functioning and community benefits. It first provides the history of hospital radio in the United Kingdom, which has been overlooked in literature, and describes the introduction of the audio programme launched at Fujita Medical University Hospital in 2019, Japan’s first hospital radio initiative, which was based on the United Kingdom’s hospital radio. Drawing from interview data of volunteer staff who conducted the hospital radio, it describes the motivation to volunteer and the bond it created among the staff, who began to view their roles from fresh perspectives. Further, from the patients’ request messages, the study clarifies hospital radio’s significance in their lives during their hospital stay. Overall, this study reveals communication among hospital staff members, patients and professional, as well as professionals’ improved ability to self-reflect.