Nurses’ Practices in Addressing Psychosocial Problems of Patients with Physical Illness: A Case in Armed Forces Referral and Teaching Hospital
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Date
2014-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Teaching Hospital