RESEARCH ARTICLE


Meanings of Being Critically Ill in a Sound-Intensive ICU Patient Room - A Phenomenological Hermeneutical Study



Lotta Johansson*, 1, Ingegerd Bergbom1, Berit Lindahl2
1 Institute of Health and Care Sciences. The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
2 School of Health Sciences, Borås University College, Sweden

Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2012
Volume: 6
First Page: 108
Last Page: 116
Publisher ID: TONURSJ-6-108
DOI: 10.2174/1874434601206010108
PMID: 22977654
PMCID: PMC3439833

Article History:

Received Date: 1/3/2012
Revision Received Date: 23/3/2012
Acceptance Date: 18/6/2012
Electronic publication date: 6/9/2012
Collection year: 2012

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Creative Commons License
© Johansson et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Arvid Wallgrens Backe, Box 457, SE- 405 30 Sweden; Tel: + 46 31 786 6108; Fax: +46 31 786 6110; E-mail: lotta. johansson@fhs.gu.se


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. 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.

Keywords: Critical illness, health facility environment, patients’ experiences, phenomenological hermeneutic, sound.