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[Hallway patients--consequences or the quality of care and patient integrity]
Background:
Because of the limited capacity in Norwegian hospitals, many patient beds are located in corridors. Does this affect quality of care and patient integrity?
Material And Methods:
The National Board of Health sent a questionnaire to all Norwegian hospitals with departments of internal medicine (n = 62). The questionnaire had statements on how corridor patients affect quality of care and patient integrity. We asked the head doctor and head nurse to fill in the questionnaire together. 60 questionnaires (97%) were returned.
Results:
There was 88%-100% agreement to the following statements: Corridor patients reduce quality of care and increase risk of mistakes and accidents. The risk of infections increases. Time spent per patient by doctor and nurse is reduced. These drawbacks affect all patients, but corridor patients the most. The quality of professional and personal conversation is reduced. Some corridor patients do all their personal hygiene in the corridor. Corridor patients' diagnosis can be recognised by passing persons.
Interpretation:
The results document that having in-patients in corridors has a negative effect on quality of care and patient integrity.