Artefacts as a Starting Point for Studying Clinical Practice.

Area of Science:

• Phenomenology
• Clinical Practice Research
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Subtle aspects of clinical practice are often overlooked in nursing research.
• Artefacts are typically viewed as passive tools, not active mediators of practice.
• Previous research noted unexpected differences in nurse behavior related to room entry/exit in different hospital designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight artefacts, such as doors, as valuable for understanding clinical practice.
• To explore the utility of a post-phenomenological approach in nursing research.
• To analyze how artefacts mediate human actions and perceptions within healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Adoption of a post-phenomenological approach, moving from critical realism.
• Utilizing the concept of 'hospes' (host/guest) as a theoretical lens.
• Analysis of interactions with artefacts (doors, rooms) in hospital settings.

Main Results:

• Artefacts actively mediate and transform actions and perceptions, not merely frame practice.
• The post-phenomenological approach, particularly 'hospes', illuminates differences in nurse, patient, and relative behavior.
• Interactions with doors and rooms shape distinct roles and responsibilities for all involved parties.

Conclusions:

• A post-phenomenological perspective is effective for uncovering unnoticed changes in clinical practice.
• Artefacts play a crucial role in mediating healthcare experiences and defining roles.
• Understanding these interactions offers new insights into patient privacy and hospital environments.