Identification of patient-generated feelings in security personnel.
Several authors have pointed out that the recognition of feelings aroused by patients in health professionals can be useful in the delivery of patient care. The general hospital setting provides an in vivo research laboratory for studying the awareness of patient-generated feelings. A questionnaire designed to help categorize and quantify the feelings experienced by security personnel (N = 28 males) while working with patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital indicated that security personnel experience a wide variety of emotions as a result of their contact with patients. Fear, anxiety, and helplessness were reported by the majority. The preponderance of negative affects identified confirms the stressful nature of their work.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003379:Countertransference; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012637:Security Measures