Psychological impact of medical equipment on patients.
This study involves the analysis of interviews with patients who are using complex medical machines. In particular, personal interviews were conducted with twenty-six patients who have undergone cardiac catheterization, ten patients utilizing a cardiac monitor, and ten people currently receiving renal dialysis treatments. The variables selected for this study fit into five general categories: 1) environment; 2) patient's personal anxiety; 3) staff interaction; 4) approach to machine; and 5) machine's function. The results of the study indicate that medical equipment does have a psychological impact on patients. The more modern and clean looking the hospital and its equipment are, the more at ease the patients will be. The staff is also very important. A method for keeping the patient's mind occupied with a portion of the particular procedure may relax him.
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000523:psychology; D006268:Health Facilities; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D008404:Massachusetts; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000523:psychology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000523:psychology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology