title: Mixed-sex wards and patient dignity: nurses and patients perspectives.
abstract: With the exception of specialized units, adults have historically been cared for in single-sex hospital wards in the UK. However, over the past two decades, concerns about mixed-sex wards have been reported. Respect and dignity are essential to provide high-quality health care. The issue of whether patients' privacy and dignity are compromised by mixed-sex wards is addressed in this article. Qualitative data were obtained from both nurses and patients on a mixed-sex surgical ward specializing in urology, to obtain individual perspectives relating to factors affecting dignity on the ward. Nurses tried hard to keep bays single-sex but, due to bed shortages, they were under continual pressure to mix the bays. Some patients of both sexes and varied ages perceived that a mixed-sex care environment threatened their dignity. They experienced a lack of privacy, worried about bodily exposure and felt uncomfortable. Nurses used various strategies to reduce patients' discomfort. Mixed sex accommodation is an unacceptable solution to bed shortages.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baillie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018907:Privacy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012752:Shame; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology