title: Patients' experiences of technology and care in adult intensive care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate patients' experiences of technology in an adult intensive care unit.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Technology is fundamental to support physical recovery from critical illness in Intensive Care Units. As well as physical corollaries, psychological disturbances are reported in critically ill patients at all stages of their illness and recovery. Nurses play a key role in the physical and psychological care of patients;, however, there is a suggestion in the literature that the presence of technology may dehumanise patient care and distract the nurse from attending to patients psychosocial needs. Little attention has been paid to patients' perceptions of receiving care in a technological environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was informed by Heideggerian phenomenology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research took place in 2009-2011 in a university hospital in England. Nineteen participants who had been patients in ICU were interviewed guided by an interview topic prompt list. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Van Manen's framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants described technology and care as inseparable and presented their experiences as a unified encounter. The theme 'Getting on with it' described how participants endured technology by 'Being Good' and 'Being Invisible'. 'Getting over it' described why participants endured technology by 'Bowing to Authority' and viewing invasive technologies as a 'Necessary Evil'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients experienced technology and care as a series of paradoxical relationships: alienating yet reassuring, uncomfortable yet comforting, impersonal yet personal. By maintaining a close and supportive presence and providing personal comfort and care nurses may minimize the invasive and isolating potential of technology.
authors: Oxford Brookes University, UK.
authors: Louise Caroline
authors: LC
authors: Stayt
authors: Royal College of Nursing Research Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Seers
authors: Royal College of Nursing Research Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Tutton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020811:Biomedical Technology; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: adult; intensive care; nursing; qualitative research; technology