Patients' Experience of Participation in Hospital Care / 간호행정학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore patients' experience of participation in their hospital care. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were conducted with a total of 21 patients in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Collected data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Two categories of patients' experience of participation in hospital care emerged 1) Reactive participatory activity, 2) active participatory activity. Major participatory activities included ‘complying with medical instructions’, ‘listening’, ‘responding’ and ‘questioning’. Healthcare professionals' attentive attitudes and explanation, and availability of care equipment were facilitating factors affecting patient participation in their care, whereas limited accessibility to and poor communication with healthcare professionals, inconvenient patient room, and patient factors were barriers to their participation. CONCLUSION: The findings in this study reveal that patients tend to participate in their care in a reactive way and that healthcare professionals have a significant role in facilitating patients' participation. Furthermore, the care environment and patient factors need to be considered to promote patient participation in hospital care.