We don't want just drugs: representations of patients about nursing care

Abstract

The aim of this study was to grasp the social patient's representations about the concepts of caring and hospital treatment. This is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach that used the technique of free word association. A total of 45 individuals took part in the study. The data were analyzed with the aid of the software Evoc. The results showed the inductor word caring revealed three central elements: love, caring and giving. Faced with the inducer term treating two central elements emerged: disease and treatment. The results showed that the social patient's representations about the concepts of caring and treating indicate that the patient expect that the ailing and their humanity will be the central focus of the nursing care. However, it is implicit that care cannot ignore the expertise to treat the sick person. In conclusion from the patient point of view the assistance received should combine interpersonal and technical competence. Thus, the expectation of the patient indicates that the nursing care needs to represent more than a technical procedure and must attend, in particular, the subjectivity that permeates all aspects that conduct to illness and valuing together health, illness and treatment