Completed Research Project
An exploration into the impact of patient characteristics and aspects of the hospital environment on the feelings of personal control experienced by hospitalised patients
Investigators: Williams,
A. M., & Kristjanson, L. J.
Funding: ECU Faculty Small Grant ($4,743).
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of aspects of the hospital environment and patient characteristics the feelings of personal control experienced by hospitalised patients. The findings from this study expanded on the theory Optimising Personal Control to Facilitate Emotional Comfort that was developed by Williams (2003) and provided a more comprehensive explanation of key factors that impacted on the care of hospitalised patients. Sources of data were formal interviews with 16 participants who had recent or current experience as a patient hospitalised in Western Australia. Interview transcripts were transcribed verbatim. The constant comparative method of analysis was used and the QSR N6 computer program (2002) was used to manage the data. The categories identified from the data were used to build on data from the previous research study. The findings confirmed the patient characteristics previously identified as being associated with low levels of personal control and emotional discomfort. These findings led to the inclusion of additional questions in the recently developed instrument, Patient Evaluation of Emotional Care during Hospitalisation. These questions aim to identify patients who may be in greater need of emotional care than others. The results from this study have provided further directions for increasing the personal control of hospitalised patients. These directions have been incorporated into a study currently in progress - Optimising the Emotional Comfort of Hospitalised Patients: Exploring the Feasibility and Effect of a Coordinated Approach to Psychosocial Care.
