Perceptions, experiences and preferences of patients receiving a clinician's touch during intimate care and procedures: a qualitative systematic review

Abstract

The synthesized finding from this review suggests that:More research is needed to explore the perceptions and preferences for intimate touch among diverse populations, generations, cultures and contexts. Particular exploration is needed for populations with additional vulnerabilities to misunderstandings, anxiety and abuse, such as pediatric and geriatric patients, and patients with physical, mental and cognitive impairments.

Investigating patients' attitudes toward receiving care from an opposite‐gender nurse

“…The results of studies in various countries with different religions and cultures showed that most patients had a moderate or negative attitude toward receiving care from an opposite-gender nurse and preferred the same-gender nurse to care for them 22,32,33 which can be due to feelings of ashamed and anxious while being touched or examined by an opposite-gender nurse. 25,34 The results of Duman's study 32 in Turkey demonstrated that female patients had a negative attitude toward the opposite-gender nurses, and none of them were willing to take care of nurses of the opposite gender.…”

“…The scores ranged between 21 and 63, while a higher score indicated more positive attitude. The overall score was divided into three levels of negative (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35), moderate (36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49), and positive attitude (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63). The scoring of the third to seventeenth questions was done inversely.…”

Journey less travelled: Female nursing students’ experiences in providing intimate care in two nursing education institutions in Gauteng province, South Africa

“…The nursing care routines are task-oriented, aimed at promoting physical and psychological comfort where touch is essential and unavoidable (Pedrazza et al 2018 ). Nurses touch patients when performing care procedures such as assistance with intimate bodily functions such as bathing and elimination (toileting), communicating care and ensuring comfort (Kelly et al 2018 ; O’Lynn, Cooper & Blackwell 2017 ). Physical touch requires sensitivity, responsiveness and involvement from a nurse as it implies physical, cognitive and emotional proximity to the patient (Pedrazza et al 2018 ).…”

“…Nursing students have to touch a patient’s body, and a patient allows a stranger to see and touch his or her fragile body. Provision of intimate care may produce feelings of discomfort, anxiety, or fear and might be misinterpreted as having sexual intent (O’Lynn et al 2017 ). Thus, nurses are constantly required to negotiate boundaries and spaces (Kelly et al 2018 ) during patient care to avoid discomfort for both parties.…”

“…Providing intimate care can be stressful for nursing students; touching patients’ private body parts may evoke feelings of distress and apprehension (Mainey et al 2018 ). Little emphasis is placed on how nurses should provide touch with respect and dignity (O’Lynn et al 2017 ). Shakwane and Mokoboto-Zwane ( 2020b ) attest that in South African nursing education institutions (NEIs), the socio-cultural aspects of intimate care are not emphasised during the facilitation of intimate care procedures.…”