Qualitative analysis of patients’ intensive care experience during mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Critical care nurses should place the highest priority on recognising and meeting the needs of ventilated patients in intensive care units. An intensive care unit should be a place for the patient to live as a human being; not just a place to survive.

Intensive care patients’ perceptions of how their dignity is maintained: A phenomenological study

“…Such experiences are also described in other studies. The sense of being dependent on others was described as stressful, burdensome and existential (Fredriksen and Ringsberg, 2006;Gjengedal, 1994;Hofhuis et al, 2008;Holland et al, 1997;Karlsson, 2012;Karlsson and Forsberg, 2008;McKinley et al, 2002;Samuelson, 2011;Wang et al, 2008).…”

“…This gave the patient the possibility of taking part in his treatment. The value of giving patients information has been described in earlier studies (Holland et al, 1997;Hupcey, 2000;McKinley et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2008).…”

“…Vulnerability and unpleasant experiences increased if the staff were not forthcoming. Wang et al (2008) concluded that an intensive care unit should be a place where patients are treated as individuals, not just a place for survival. The patients in Samuelson's (2011) study had both unpleasant and pleasant recollections of their stays in the intensive care unit, including care involving staff with unsatisfactory behaviour and attitudes.…”

Patients’ experiences of safety during haemodialysis treatment – a qualitative study

“…Furthermore, Lasiter (2011) described that intensive care patients felt safe because they were monitored by machines. However, some patients felt dependent and fearful by relying on technology and some did not like being hooked to machines (Russell 1999, Wang et al 2009). Haemodialysis patients also perceived the machine as something they were hooked to.…”

Communication when patients are conscious during respirator treatment—A hermeneutic observation study

“…It has been established that patients view the ICU environment as unfamiliar and feel that they have no impact on how it is organised, which leads to dependency, especially on the nursing staff. Being in the ICU involves experiences of discomfort, feelings of pain and panic (Bergbom-Engberg and Haljamäe, 1989;Foster, 2010;Rotondi et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2008). Being voiceless also creates a loss of freedom and personhood (Carroll, 2007) and evokes feelings of frustration and helplessness (Bergbom-Engberg and Haljamäe, 1989;Samuelsson, 2011).…”