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Scand J Caring Sci. 1996;10(3):151-6.
Patients' narratives concerning good and bad caring.
Lovgren G, Engstrom B, Norberg A.
Department of Advanced Nursing, Umea University, Sweden.
Narratives from patients (n = 80) and patients' relatives (n
= 12) were collected to illuminate experiences of good and bad
caring episodes and to obtain descriptions of good caring.
Narratives describing good caring included such task aspects as
swift and correct assessment and access to information. Aspects
less frequently mentioned were, for example, being given time,
receiving pain relief and good food. Relationship aspects
mentioned; having an interest shown in the care, being taken
seriously and being cared about. There are parallels regarding
relationship aspects between the narratives concerning good and
bad caring episodes; for example what was praised in the good
caring narratives was criticized in those describing bad caring.
Such parallels were being/not being trusted, being/not being
believed and being/not being respected. The narrations
concerning bad caring were more specific and more vivid than
those about good caring. The authors' interpretation was that
the bad episodes were unexpected and very painful and therefore
remained imprinted in the patients' memories. The descriptions
of good caring included relationship aspects in only 34 cases,
task aspects in only five cases and a combination of both in 50
cases. The ultimate purpose of the study was to obtain a basis
for the development of a policy for good caring founded on
patients' experiences. It is desirable that further studies be
undertaken within various clinical specialties which would also
take into consideration medical, social and cultural
perspectives.
PMID: 9060785 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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