Dehumanisation in intensive care

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Critical Care Nursing
• Psychology of Illness

Background:

• Critical illness profoundly impacts patients, often leading to a loss of self-identity.
• The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environment can exacerbate feelings of dehumanisation.
• Person-centered care is crucial but challenging in critical care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of dehumanisation experienced by critically ill patients.
• To examine the effect of critical illness on patient self-identity.
• To understand how these factors influence nurses' delivery of person-centered care in the ICU.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of patient and nurse experiences.
• Literature review on dehumanisation and critical care.
• Conceptual analysis of self-identity in critical illness.

Main Results:

• Critical illness can lead to a diminished sense of self, contributing to dehumanisation.
• Nurses face challenges in maintaining patient individuality amidst critical care protocols.
• Dehumanisation impacts the therapeutic relationship and care quality.

Conclusions:

• Addressing dehumanisation is essential for ethical and effective critical care.
• Supporting patient self-identity is vital for person-centered nursing in the ICU.
• Further research is needed on interventions to mitigate dehumanisation in critical illness.