[Privacy within psychiatric wards].
OBJECTIVE
Privacy within psychiatric wards should be evaluated from the patient's point of view.


METHODS
Different aspects of privacy were assessed by a self-rating scale given to all patients of a psychiatric hospital at a qualifying date.


RESULTS
The adjusted response rate was 74.5 %. By means of a factor analysis, four factors were extracted: Intimacy, sexual restriction, discretion, and care. A lack of discretion when entering the patient's room were reported by more than 80 % of patients, disturbances of intimacy by nearly 25 %. Disturbances by patients or staff when taking a shower were especially found bothersome. 15 % of patients reported about being touched by patients or staff against their will.


CONCLUSIONS
Disturbances of privacy play an important role in psychiatric wards. The therapeutic team should be aware of these findings and should pay attention to preserve patient's privacy during inpatient care.
Spiessl
Hermann
H
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität Regensburg, Bezirksklinikum Regensburg. hermann.spiessl@bkr-regensburg.de
Kovatsits
Ulla v
Uv
Frick
Ulrich
U
Cording
Clemens
C
Vukovich
Adolf
A
D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010550:Personal Space; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital