Dependency in Critically Ill Patients: A Meta-Synthesis

Global Qualitative Nursing Research

Rumei Yang¹ 

关键词: dependency;    critically ill patients;    meta-synthesis;    nursing;    concept development;   

DOI  :  10.1177/2333393616631677

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

By necessity, critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) have a high level of dependency, which is linked to a variety of negative feelings, such as powerlessness. However, the term dependency is not well defined in the critically ill patients. The concept of “dependency” in critically ill patients was analyzed using a meta-synthesis approach. An inductive process described by Deborah Finfgeld-Connett was used to analyze the data. Overarching themes emerged that reflected critically ill patients’ experience and meaning of being in dependency were (a) antecedents: dependency in critically ill patients was a powerless and vulnerable state, triggered by a life-threatening crisis; (b) attributes: the characteristic of losing “self” was featured by dehumanization and disembodiment, which can be alleviated by a “self”-restoring process; and (c) outcomes: living with dependency and coping with dependency. The conceptual model explicated here may provide a framework for understanding dependency in critically ill patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY