Nurses' experiences of futile care at intensive care units:a phenomenological study
Dublin Core
Title
Nurses' experiences of futile care at intensive care units:a phenomenological study
Author
Yekefallah, Leili
Ashktorab, Tahereh
Manoochehri, Houman
Hamid, Alavi Majd
Ashktorab, Tahereh
Manoochehri, Houman
Hamid, Alavi Majd
Publisher
1/14/15
Language
English
Publication Date
20150114
Abstract
The concept and meaning of futile care depends on the existing culture, values, religion, beliefs, medical achievements and emotional status of a country. We aimed to define the concept of futile care in the viewpoints of nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs). In this phenomenological study, the experiences of 25 nurses were explored in 11 teaching hospitals affiliated to Social Security Organization in Ghazvin province in the northwest of Iran. Personal interviews and observations were used for data collection. All interviews were recorded as well as transcribed and codes, subthemes and themes were extracted using Van Manen's analysis method. Initially, 191 codes were extracted. During data analysis and comparison, the codes were reduced to 178. Ultimately, 9 sub-themes and four themes emerged: uselessness, waste of resources, torment, and aspects of futility.Nurses defined futile care as 'useless, ineffective care giving with wastage of resources and torment of both patients and nurses having nursing and medical aspects' As nurses play a key role in managing futile care, being aware of their experiences in this regard could be the initial operational step for providing useful care as well as educational programs in ICUs. Moreover, the results of this study could help nursing managers adopt supportive approaches to reduce the amount of futile care which could in turn resolve some of the complications nurses face at these wards such as burnout, ethical conflicts, and leave.
Primary Classification
20.5.1
Secondary Classification
20.5.1;9.4;4.1.3
Primary keywords
attitudes of health personnel--[pri];futility--[pri];nurses--[pri]
Secondary keywords
critically ill;intensive care units;interviews;nurse patient relationship;qualitative research;resource allocation
Subject
Iran--[pri]
Journal Article
Global Journal of Health Science2015 January 14; 7(4):235-242
Link for Internet access
Note
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Copyright © Canadian Center of Science and Education
Call Number
citation
Bibliography
20 refs
ISSN
19169736 (print);19169744 (online)
Collection
Citation
“Nurses' experiences of futile care at intensive care units:a phenomenological study,” Islamic Medical & Scientific Ethics, accessed January 16, 2025, https://imse.ibp.georgetown.domains/items/show/37317.