Browsing by Author "Nigussie, Fikirte"

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    Nurses’ Practices in Addressing Psychosocial Problems of Patients with Physical Illness: A Case in Armed Forces Referral and Teaching Hospital
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-11) Nigussie, Fikirte; Lemma, Girma (PhD)
    The purpose of the study was to explore nurses’ practice in addressing the psychosocial needs of patients with physical illness in the Armed Forces Referral and Teaching Hospital. The researcher used qualitative research method to identify whether nurses in this hospital address the psychosocial needs of patients while caring for their physical needs. Focused group discussion, in-depth interview and non participant observation were used as tools to collect the data. The finding indicated that patients did not get opportunity to discuss and express their feelings in the process of their care and treatment. It also showed that providing psychosocial support is not considered as one of the responsibilities of nurses in the hospital. The practice of addressing patients’ psychosocial problems along with physical care need is almost nonexistent. The whole round discussions the nurses supposed to have with their patients usually focuses on the physical illness the patients experience rather than psychosocial support which is also crucial in the caring process. The nurses’ workload and lack of knowledge and skill to identify and manage psychosocial problems at an early stage were as well found to be limiting factors that hindered attending to patients’ psychosocial needs. Based on the findings, some recommendations are forwarded.