Adult patients’ experiences of nursing care dependence

Purpose: Care dependence can be associated with suffering and humiliation.Nurses’ awareness of patients’ perception of care dependence is crucial to enablethem in helping the dependent persons. This study aimed to describe adultpatients’ experience of nursing care dependence.Method: A metasynthesis was conducted to integrate qualitative findingsfrom 18 studies published through December 2014 on adult patients’ experiencesof care dependency. Procedures included the Johanna Briggs Instituteapproach for data extraction, quality appraisal, and integration of findings.Findings: The experience of dependence revealed the concept of the embodiedperson, particularly in relation to care of the physical body. The relationshipbetween the individual and nurses within the context of care had a major impactfor dependent patients. When the care relation was perceived as positive,the experience led to the development of the person in finding new balancesin life, but when it was perceived as negative, it increased patient’ suffering.Conclusions: Care dependence is manifested mostly as bodily dependenceand is consistent with its relational nature. The nurse–patient relationship isimportant to the dependent patients’ experience.Clinical Relevance: A greater understanding of patients’ experiences of dependenceis crucial to enable nurses in improving care and decreasing patientsuffering.