The lived experience of patients on mechanical ventilation: research

Patients connected to a mechanical ventilator have to endure various experiences and emotions, which are unique to each patient. These patients are subjected to physical and emotional stress, which is related to the unfamiliar surroundings of the intensive care environment and the limitations caused by the process of ventilation. Factors that hamper the optimal functioning of patients on the mechanical ventilator include the inability to communicate, the fear of impending dependency and the reality of being faced with their own mortality. The purpose of this study was to identify, explore and describe the experiences of patients who were connected to a mechanical ventilator. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used. This sampling method was selected because the researcher had to involve patients who were willing and able to communicate their experiences. This was done by means of a conscious selection of patients who had to meet the requirements of sampling criteria set out by the researcher. Data was obtained by means of phenomenological interviews with respondents. Once data was collected, interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data was then analysed according to Tesch's method as described in Creswell (1994: 152). An independent coder verified the identified major themes, namely: experiences of patients related to the process of ventilation, as well as their experiences of the environment while connected to the ventilator. A literature control was also done to compare similarities and differences found in data analysis. Ethical principles were maintained throughout the study. The identified experiences formed the basis for the formulation of guidelines to assist the registered nurse in the accompaniment of patients during the ventilation process. Pasiënte wat aan 'n meganiese ventilator gekoppel is, moet verskeie emosies en ervarings deurmaak, wat aan elke persoon uniek is. Hierdie pasiënte word onderwerp aan fisiese en emosionele stres wat verband hou met die onbekende omgewing van die intensiewesorgeenheid, asook die beperkinge wat die proses van ventilasie meebring. Faktore wat op die optimale funksionering van pasiënte inbreuk maak, sluit die volgende in: die onvermoë om effektief met andere te kommunikeer, vrees vir die ontwikkeling van totale afhanklikheid en die realiteit om van hul eie mortalitiet bewus te word. Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om die belewenis van pasiënte wat aan die ventilator gekoppel was, te identifiseer, verken en te beskryf. Data is deur middel van fenomenologiese onderhoudvoering met respondente ingesamel. Na insameling van data is onderhoude verbatim getranskribeer. Data-analise is daarna volgens Tesch se metode, soos in Creswell (1994: 152) beskryf, uitgevoer. 'n Onafhanklike kodeerder het die geïdentifiseerde hooftemas geverifeer, naamlik: ervarings van pasiënte met betrekking tot die ventilasie proses, asook hulle ervarings van die omgewing terwyl hulle aan die ventilator gekoppel is. 'n Literatuurkontrole is gedoen om ooreenkomste en verskille in data uit te wys. Etiese beginsels is deurgaans in die studie gehandhaaf. (Health SA Gesondheid : interdisciplinary research journal: 2002 7(4): 24-37