title: A palliative environment: Caring for seriously ill hospitalized patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how patients experience being in the hospital environment and the meaning they assign to the environment during serious illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study design was applied, and the data analysis was inspired by Ricoeur's phenomenological-hermeneutic theory of interpretation. Data were collected through multiple qualitative interviews combined with observations at a teaching hospital in Denmark from May to September 2011. A total of 12 patients participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed that the hospital environment has a strong impact on patients' emotions and well-being. They reported that aesthetic decorations and small cozy spots for conversation or relaxation created a sense of homeliness that reinforced a positive mood and personal strength. Furthermore, being surrounded by some of their personal items or undertaking familiar tasks, patients were able to maintain a better sense of self. Maintaining at least some kind of familiar daily rhythm was important for their sense of well-being and positive emotions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results stress the importance of an aesthetically pleasing and homelike hospital environment as part of palliative care, since the aesthetic practice and a sense of homeliness strengthened patients' experiences of well-being, relief, and positive emotions while in a vulnerable situation. Such knowledge could encourage the development of new policies regarding appropriate care settings, which in turn could result in overall improved care during serious illness.
authors: Section of Nursing, Health; The Horsens Hospital Research Unit and Medical Department,Aarhus University,Horsens,Denmark.
authors: Connie
authors: C
authors: Timmermann
authors: Section of Nursing, Health; The Horsens Hospital Research Unit,Aarhus University,Horsens,Denmark.
authors: Lisbeth
authors: L
authors: Uhrenfeldt
authors: Interdisciplinary Research Unit, Elective Surgery Center,Silkeborg Regional Hospital and Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark,Copenhagen,Denmark.
authors: Mette Terp
authors: MT
authors: Høybye
authors: Institute of Regional Health Research; Lillebælt Hospital, University of Southern Denmark,Vejle,Denmark.
authors: Regner
authors: R
authors: Birkelund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Aesthetics