title: [Privacy within psychiatric wards].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität Regensburg, Bezirksklinikum Regensburg. hermann.spiessl@bkr-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spiessl
authors.forename: Ulla v
authors.initials: Uv
authors.lastname: Kovatsits
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cording
authors.forename: Adolf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vukovich
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010550:Personal Space; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital