[Perception of privacy in patients hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit]

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an impersonal and technologically invasive setting. The rules and framework of the unit favor a lack of privacy, an inherent fact for every kind of hospitalization. The objectives of the study are to know the experience of patients admitted to the ICU in relation to the perception of privacy and its impact on their own experience.

Phenomenological qualitative methodology. The participants were patients admitted to the ICU of Son Dureta University Hospital in Palma de Mallorca, who were older than 18 with a minimum stay of 48 hours and who had signed an informed consent. Data collection. By exhaustive semi-structured interviews. Content analysis.

The perception of privacy in patients admitted to the ICU is described in relationship with surrounding physical space, family setting and privacy autonomy. The patients evaluated the flexibility of rules, professionalism of the nursing staff and the need for family support when the situation is more stable.

To prevent the quality of nursing cares from only depending on their technological knowledge and ability, but also depends on the humane side of caring, it is extremely important to consider the different elements that mould the experience of being admitted to the ICU and respect of the privacy of each person.