Maintaining privacy on post-natal wards: a study in five European countries.
OBJECTIVE
Maintaining privacy on post-natal wards: a study in five European countries Aim. To describe how mothers' privacy is maintained on post-natal wards in five European countries: Finland, Spain, Greece, Germany and Scotland [United Kingdom (UK)]


BACKGROUND
Privacy is an important concept in nursing and nursing ethics. Empirical studies in this field, however, are few. In this study, privacy is defined as comprising both physical and social-informational dimensions and both the perceptions of mothers and professional were investigated.


METHODS
The data were collected by a questionnaire from mothers (n=1192) and midwife/nursing staff (n=952).


RESULTS
The results revealed differences both between the different countries and between patients' and professionals' views. Mothers in Finland, Germany and Scotland felt their privacy was maintained better than mothers in Greece and Spain. The differences in staff perceptions are less clear-cut. Different background factors emerge as statistically significant in different countries.


CONCLUSIONS
Empirical studies in privacy are important and give ideas about the problems in nursing practice. Future analyses should look also at other areas of nursing.
Leino-Kilpi
Helena
H
Department of Nursing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland, Researcher, Department of Nursing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. helena.leino-kilpi@utu.fi
Välimäki
Maritta
M
Dassen
Theo
T
Gasull
Maria
M
Lemonidou
Chryssoula
C
Scott
P Anne
PA
Arndt
Marianne
M
Kaljonen
Anne
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005858:Germany; D006115:Greece; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010550:Personal Space; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires