Meanings of Being Critically Ill in a Sound-Intensive ICU Patient Room - A Phenomenological Hermeneutical Study

摘要

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patientroom, as disclosed through patients’ narratives. Patient rooms in ICUs are filled with loud activity and studies haverevealed sound levels comparable to those of a busy road above the patient’s head. There is a risk that the sound or noiseis disturbing and at worst a major problem for the patient, but there is a lack of knowledge concerning the patients’ ownexperiences. Thirteen patients were asked to narrate their experiences of the sound environment in ICU patient rooms. Theinterviews were analyzed using a phenomenological- hermeneutical method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Sixthemes emerged from the analysis. Conclusion: The meanings of being a patient in a sound- intensive environment wereinterpreted as never knowing what to expect next regarding noise, but also of being situated in the middle of anuncontrollable barrage of noise, unable to take cover or disappear. This condition is not to be seen as static; for somepatients there is movement and change over time. The meanings indicate that the unpredictable shifts between silence anddisturbing sounds stress the critically ill patient and impede sleep and recovery. Our findings indicate the need to reducedisturbing and unexpected sounds and noise around critically ill patients in high-tech environments in order to facilitatewellbeing, sleep and recovery. Nurses have a vital role in developing such an environment.