Exploring the experiences of patients who have had an in-patient stay
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Research Study Exploring the Experiences of Haematology Patients who have had a hospital stay.
IRAS ID
190481
Contact name
Gayle Brewer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCLan University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 6 days
Research summary
Previous researchers have used the concept of ‘hospitality’ to measure patient satisfaction within hospitals as the working definition suggests that the individual patient should feel as ‘at home’ as possible during their hospital stay. The phrase ‘at home’ is intended to indicate a standard of security, physiological and psychological comfort which the patient knows and is satisfied with based on a harmonious mixture of the physical environment and the behaviour and attitude of people (Cassee and Remand, 1983). Nevertheless, delivering healthcare standards is irreducibly complex as human disease is also inherently complex; manifesting itself differently across patients. Therefore healthcare professionals can provide the same service, but the patient may experience it differently as a by-product of their current condition. For instance, Haematological malignancies are complex diseases comprising more than 60 distinct disease types, affecting the entire age spectrum and having marked differences in presentation, treatment, progression and outcomes; compared to other cancers (Howell et al, 2010). Patients diagnosed with Myeloma for example, will experience effects on the body in several ways, as it affects multiple places in the body where bone marrow is normally active in an adult, i.e. within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, the rib cage and the areas around the shoulders and hips (Myeloma UK, 2016). This inadvertently causes many symptoms and complications from diagnosis and throughout such as persistent pain, bone disease, recurring infections due to a lowered immune system, kidney damage and peripheral neuropathy. There is very limited research on the experiences of those who have had a long term in-patient stay on a haematology ward which can make it difficult to inform and improve on healthcare services within this area. Therefore in an attempt to implement compassion into professional practice and to increase the amount of clarity, empathy, and quality of communication with patients, organisations have implemented ‘patient-centred care’; treatment planning based on an intimate and particular understanding of each individual patient (Benner, Tanner, & Chesla, 1996; Randall & Wearn, 2005; Hepple, Kipps & Thomson, 1990). Specialist nurses play an active role in helping patients deal with the reported challenges of long hospital stays and life-threatening diagnosis through distraction and restoration interventions (Ahluwalia,2015; Hanson et al, 2013; Beauman et al, 2013); improving patient outcomes in fatigue, quality of life and performance status which is congruent with the core nursing values of promoting health, healing, and hope (Hanson et al, 2013). Increased patient satisfaction with their care is also found to influence patients’ willingness to comply with treatment plans and improve overall health outcomes (Sofaer & Firminger, 2005). Despite improved treatment adherence, many patients continue to experience relapsed disease with 68% eventually dying from their malignancy within hospital (NCIN, 2010). In this context, good symptom control and end-of-life palliative care is extremely important with much needed insight into the quality of the care that IS received and the preferences of patients or carers (NCIN, 2010).
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
16/NS/0074
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion