Protecting Personhood: A Classic Grounded Theory

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Research
• Patient Experience
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Growing emphasis on patient engagement and partnership in healthcare globally.
• Healthcare professionals encouraged to view patients as active participants in their own care.
• Need to understand patient perspectives on interprofessional healthcare teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore hospitalized patients' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration.
• To develop a theory explaining patients' experiences within hospital settings.
• To identify factors influencing patient well-being and self-perception during hospitalization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized classic grounded theory methodology.
• Conducted in-depth analysis of patients' experiences with interprofessional healthcare teams.
• Developed a substantive theory directly from patient data.

Main Results:

• The core concept of 'protecting personhood' emerged from patient data.
• Identified a four-stage process: introspection, preservation, rupture, and reconciliation.
• Highlighted the significance of relationships and empowerment in patient experiences.

Conclusions:

• The 'protecting personhood' theory provides insight into hospitalized patients' strategies for maintaining self-identity.
• Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for effective interprofessional collaboration.
• Empowerment and supportive relationships are key drivers for patients navigating healthcare.