PATIENTS NARRATIVES CONCERNING GOOD AND BAD CARING

Narratives from patients (n = 80) and patients' relatives (n = 12) wer e collected in order to illuminate experiences of good and bad caring episodes and to obtain descriptions of good caring. Narratives describ ing good caring included such task aspects as swift and correct assess ment and access to information. Aspects less frequently mentioned were , for example, being given time, receiving pain relief and good food. Relationship aspects mentioned; having an interest shown in the care, being taken seriously and being cared about. There are parallels regar ding relationship aspects between the narratives concerning good and b ad caring episodes; for example what was praised in the good caring na rratives was criticized in those describing bad caring. Such parallels were being/not being trusted, being/not being believed and being/not being respected. The narrations concerning bad caring were more specif ic and more vivid than those about good caring. The authors' interpret ation was that the bad episodes were unexpected and very painful and t herefore remained imprinted in the patients' memories. The description s of good caring included relationship aspects in only 34 cases, task aspects in only five cases and a combination of both in 50 cases. The ultimate purpose of the study was to obtain a basis for the developmen t of a policy for good caring founded on patients' experiences. It is desirable that further studies be undertaken within various clinical s pecialities which would also take into consideration medical, social a nd cultural perspectives.