Meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room -A phenomenological hermeneutical study
(2012) In Open Nursing Journal 6(1). p.108-116- Abstract
The aim of this study was to illuminate the meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room, as disclosed through patients' narratives. Patient rooms in ICUs are filled with loud activity and studies have revealed sound levels comparable to those of a busy road above the patient's head. There is a risk that the sound or noise is disturbing and at worst a major problem for the patient, but there is a lack of knowledge concerning the patients' own experiences. Thirteen patients were asked to narrate their experiences of the sound environment in ICU patient rooms. The interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological- hermeneutical method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Six themes emerged from the analysis.... (More)
The aim of this study was to illuminate the meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room, as disclosed through patients' narratives. Patient rooms in ICUs are filled with loud activity and studies have revealed sound levels comparable to those of a busy road above the patient's head. There is a risk that the sound or noise is disturbing and at worst a major problem for the patient, but there is a lack of knowledge concerning the patients' own experiences. Thirteen patients were asked to narrate their experiences of the sound environment in ICU patient rooms. The interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological- hermeneutical method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Six themes emerged from the analysis. Conclusion: The meanings of being a patient in a sound- intensive environment were interpreted as never knowing what to expect next regarding noise, but also of being situated in the middle of an uncontrollable barrage of noise, unable to take cover or disappear. This condition is not to be seen as static; for some patients there is movement and change over time. The meanings indicate that the unpredictable shifts between silence and disturbing sounds stress the critically ill patient and impede sleep and recovery. Our findings indicate the need to reduce disturbing and unexpected sounds and noise around critically ill patients in high-tech environments in order to facilitate wellbeing, sleep and recovery. Nurses have a vital role in developing such an environment.
(Less)
- author
- Johansson, Lotta ; Bergbom, Ingegerd and Lindahl, Berit LU
- publishing date
- 2012
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Critical illness, Health facility environment, Patients' experiences, Phenomenological hermeneutic, Sound
- in
- Open Nursing Journal
- volume
- 6
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 108 - 116
- publisher
- Bentham Science Publishers
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:84884199435
- ISSN
- 1874-4346
- DOI
- 10.2174/1874434601206010108
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 77e2b032-5910-48ab-99f1-8ebfd2063bea
- date added to LUP
- 2020-04-14 15:52:05
- date last changed
- 2022-02-01 05:41:38
@article{77e2b032-5910-48ab-99f1-8ebfd2063bea,
abstract = {{<p>The aim of this study was to illuminate the meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room, as disclosed through patients' narratives. Patient rooms in ICUs are filled with loud activity and studies have revealed sound levels comparable to those of a busy road above the patient's head. There is a risk that the sound or noise is disturbing and at worst a major problem for the patient, but there is a lack of knowledge concerning the patients' own experiences. Thirteen patients were asked to narrate their experiences of the sound environment in ICU patient rooms. The interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological- hermeneutical method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Six themes emerged from the analysis. Conclusion: The meanings of being a patient in a sound- intensive environment were interpreted as never knowing what to expect next regarding noise, but also of being situated in the middle of an uncontrollable barrage of noise, unable to take cover or disappear. This condition is not to be seen as static; for some patients there is movement and change over time. The meanings indicate that the unpredictable shifts between silence and disturbing sounds stress the critically ill patient and impede sleep and recovery. Our findings indicate the need to reduce disturbing and unexpected sounds and noise around critically ill patients in high-tech environments in order to facilitate wellbeing, sleep and recovery. Nurses have a vital role in developing such an environment.</p>}},
author = {{Johansson, Lotta and Bergbom, Ingegerd and Lindahl, Berit}},
issn = {{1874-4346}},
keywords = {{Critical illness; Health facility environment; Patients' experiences; Phenomenological hermeneutic; Sound}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{108--116}},
publisher = {{Bentham Science Publishers}},
series = {{Open Nursing Journal}},
title = {{Meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room -A phenomenological hermeneutical study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874434601206010108}},
doi = {{10.2174/1874434601206010108}},
volume = {{6}},
year = {{2012}},
}