Bemötande av personer med psykisk ohälsa inom somatisk vård - Ett patientperspektiv

Introduction Mental illness is a public health problem that affects every aspect of the life of an individual. Stigmatization of people who suffer from mental illness is prominent in society, despite active efforts to prevent it. Co-morbidity and unique health care needs result in a more complex hospitalization for this group of individuals. Psychiatric care has resources and expertise that the somatic health care lacks. To give the best care possible, a deeper understanding about how persons with mental illness experience somatic care is necessary. Method A general literature review was the chosen methodological design. Eleven qualitative original articles were picked out from database searches performed in PubMed, PsycInfo and Cinahl. Their level of quality was then established with a quality audit using a framework from SBU. Results Results showed that people with mental illness had both positive and negative experiences, all centered on the desire to be part of one's own care. Getting treated with respect, being listened to and a continuity of care was associated with safety. The opposite were also true, where ignorance, inattentiveness and an unwillingness to listen led to an inner uncertainty where the mentally ill persons question their worthiness to receive care in the first place. Conclusion The result highlighted the importance of communication for the relationship between carer and care recipient as well as their understanding of each other. Mental health is a complex and multifaceted subject and so are the individuals suffering from their issues. Hence, more research is vital in order to identify the different aspects of the professional-patient relations. Keywords: Caring sciences, Literature review, Mental illness, Nursing care, Patient experience, Professional-patient relations.