Needs during hospitalization: Definitions and descriptions made by patients

Patients are supposed to be given care according to their needs. This conce pt is, however, difficult to define and patients and caregivers may have di fferent opinions about a patient's needs. Twenty patients were interviewed and asked to give a definition of need, describe their needs while hospital ized and depict what they do to make sure their needs are fulfilled. Ten gr oups of needs were identified: communication, basic care, contact with othe r people, behaviour of staff, empathy, competent caregivers, continuity, in tegrity, participation in decision making, and pain relief. The description s patients gave of how they ensured their needs were met could be divided i nto two groups: openly seeking attention; or not wanting to disturb the sta ff. Interviews with patients emphasized the importance of recognizing that they have individual needs and varying abilities to see that their needs ar e fulfilled.