The Patient’s Situation During Interhospital Intensive Care Unit-to-Unit Transfers: A Hermeneutical Observational Study

Jonas Karlsson, Thomas Eriksson, Berit Lindahl, Isabell Fridh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Interhospital intensive care unit-to-unit transfers are an increasing phenomenon, earlier mainly studied from a patient safety perspective. Using data from video recordings and participant observations, the aim was to explore and interpret the observed nature of the patient’s situation during interhospital intensive care unit-to-unit transfers. Data collection from eight transfers resulted in over 7 hours of video material and field notes. Using a hermeneutical approach, three themes emerged: being visible and invisible; being in a constantly changing space; and being a fettered body in constant motion. The patient’s situation can be viewed as an involuntary journey, one where the patient exists in a constantly changing space drifting in and out of the health personnel’s attention and where movements from the journey become part of the patient’s body. Interhospital transfers of vulnerable patients emerge as a complex task, challenging the health personnel’s ability to maintain a caring atmosphere around these patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1687-1698
JournalQualitative Health Research
Volume29
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Nursing

Free keywords

  • critical care
  • hermeneutics
  • intensive care
  • participant observation
  • patient safety
  • patient transfer
  • qualitative
  • qualitative studies
  • Sweden
  • transportation of patients
  • video recording

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