Ventilated patients’ experiences of body awareness at an intensive care unit

Abstract

Treatment with mechanical ventilation (MV) in an intensive care unit (ICU) can cause extensive problems for patients. There is, however, a dearth of research investigation into how ICU treatment affects a person's body image. The aim of this study was to enhance the knowledge and understanding of body awareness and body image in persons treated with MV in an ICU. In order to capture the informants’ own perceptions and experiences, a qualitative method of Grounded Theory was chosen. Seven thematic in-depth interviews were carried out with former ICU patients. To increase credibility, triangulation of researchers and reference group checking was used. The analysis resulted in the core category Limited possibilities to act, which relates to the informants’ experiences of not being able to act as they normally would. The core category was derived from the experiences of feeling like another person, the perceptions of not being in contact with their body and reality and the feeling of being restrained. This study adds a perspective of body awareness to the interpretations of ICU patients’ experiences. It emphasizes the experience and movement aspects of the body and that physiotherapists have an important role in the rehabilitation of ICU patients.

• Body image
• intensive care
• mechanical ventilation
• physiotherapy
• qualitative research