Violation in caring for the physically disabled

West J Nurs Res. 1997 Jun;19(3):282-96. doi: 10.1177/019394599701900302.

Abstract

Based on in-depth interviews, this article reports how people with disabilities perceive and experience the care given by public health care personnel. A major and disturbing finding is that the informants describe feelings of being violated, transgressed, and infringed upon by the personnel in change of their care. Because of the way nurses and other health care personnel interact, patients' bodies are often perceived as objects. The article describes some of these feelings, including how the informants construct different body boundaries in order to handle the violation of their body and body zone, and it discusses some features of the health care professions that may cause the informants' feelings of being violated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Body Image*
  • Disabled Persons / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurse-Patient Relations*
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Privacy*
  • Public Health Nursing
  • Shame*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires