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Maintaining privacy on post-natal wards: a study in five European countries
Helena Leino-Kilpi1, Maritta Välimäki, Theo Dassen
1Department of Nursing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland, Researcher, Department of Nursing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. helena.leino-kilpi@utu.fi
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|February 20, 2002
Summary
Mothers in Finland, Germany, and Scotland reported better privacy on post-natal wards than those in Greece and Spain. This study highlights country-specific differences in maintaining patient privacy in nursing care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Science
- Healthcare Ethics
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Privacy is a critical aspect of nursing and nursing ethics.
- Empirical research on privacy in nursing practice is limited.
- This study defines privacy through physical and social-informational dimensions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how mothers' privacy is maintained on post-natal wards.
- To compare privacy perceptions across five European countries: Finland, Spain, Greece, Germany, and Scotland.
- To examine both mothers' and healthcare professionals' views on privacy.
Main Methods:
- Data collected via questionnaires from 1192 mothers and 952 nursing staff.
- Cross-national comparative study design.
- Inclusion of both patient and professional perspectives.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in privacy maintenance were observed between countries.
- Mothers in Finland, Germany, and Scotland reported higher levels of privacy compared to those in Greece and Spain.
- Variations in healthcare professionals' perceptions of privacy were less distinct, with country-specific background factors influencing results.
Conclusions:
- Empirical studies on privacy are crucial for identifying challenges in nursing practice.
- Findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive approaches to patient privacy.
- Further research should explore privacy issues in other nursing domains.