[When patients talk about healing: a phenomenological qualitative study]

When patients talk about care: a qualitative phenomenological study. Introduction. Caring has been studied so far mainly from the nurses'point of view, but is equally important to elicit the patients' perspective to improve the understanding of actions and behaviors nurses can implement to respond to patients' expectations and idea of caring. Patients and nurses' perspectives may, in fact, be different. Aims. To describe and understand the caring experience of patients admitted to hospital, focusing on behaviors associated to a good caring. Methods. A qualitative, phenomenological hermeneutical research was conducted. Patients were interviewed with semi structured interviews and asked to tell when they had received a good care from nurses. Results. Ninety-three patients from different wards were interviewed. The caring dimensions described refer to the opportunity to experience a relationship of closeness with nurses, of being perceived as unique persons, understood, to relieve the sense of loneliness, sometimes experienced. Patients perceive that they are cared when receiving information consistent with their needs, that they are able to understand, when nurses are attentive and make them feel safe through constant monitoring and surveillance. Conclusions. The organizations should promote caring models oriented to the personalization of care, perceived as an essential element of care.