Paradoxical perception of humanistic care in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of nurses, patients and attendants of humanistic care in the intensive care unit. Design The present study was a qualitative conventional content analysis conducted in the intensive care unit in a hospital in Iran, in 2019. Methods Data were collected using semi‐structured interviews and field notes through purposive sampling with 17 nurses who worked in an adult ICU in a teaching hospital, 4 attendants and 4 alert patients, and then analysed using the Elo‐Kyngäs method in 2008. Results Analysis of the data led to the extraction of Four main themes as follows: (1) Insufficient understanding of nurses and patients' families of each other's roles, needs and expectations; (2) The use of personal and situational reasoning rather than ethical principles; (3) Caring stagnation; and (4) Satisfaction with care.

Keywords

• humanistic care
• intensive care units
• nursing
• qualitative research