Patients' core experiences of hospital treatment: Wholeness and self-worth in time and space

Abstract

Background: The focus is voluntarily hospitalized patients' experiences during planned admissions at a psychiatric clinic.

Aim: To explore and describe patients' perceptions on what were essential experiences for their recovery processes.

Method: An exploratory and descriptive study, with a hermeneutic – phenomenological approach in data collection and analysis. Qualitative interviews with 15 patients during their stay.

Results: The patients' experiences of wholeness and self-worth in time and space were found to be decisive. Wholeness refers to a combination of professionalism, kind hearts, and aesthetic qualities of the place. Altogether this contributed to the patients' experience of self-worth and equality. Socializing with fellow patients was also important in this regard. The therapy programme during daytime facilitated patients' experiences of being active and equal with the staff. Leisure time allowed for being a fellow human among other patients. But for some this reinforced the experiences of being a patient, i.e., being passive and inferior.

Conclusions: It may still be useful to offer inpatient treatment for persons suffering from mental health problems. There is a need for further research to find what are the optimal therapeutic milieu and culture, and how these affect the recovery processes.

Keywords:

• Patients' experiences
• therapeutic culture
• inpatient treatment