title: The lived experience of patients in protective isolation during their hospital stay for allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) usually receive hospital care in protective isolation until full neutrophil recovery. Although the aim of protective isolation is to benefit patients' health by preventing risks of infection, it could have severe psychological implications. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of protective isolation in adult patients who had been treated with allogeneic HSCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive phenomenological inquiry based on Giorgi's approach was conducted in a university hospital in Italy. Ten patients (7 female and 3 male, age range 28-66), who had undergone allogeneic HSCT to treat a haematological malignancy, were interviewed about their hospital stay in protective isolation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A general meaning structure was identified as being isolated to achieve transformation. The revelatory themes were as follows: (1) the special place for transformation, (2) the experience of embodied transformation, and (3) light and shade from inside and outside. Participants experienced a transformation of themselves, of their relationships with loved ones, and of the environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since patients may live the experience of being treated with allogeneic HSCT in protective isolation as a transformation process, health-care providers should monitor the psychosocial implications of the isolation practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: vale_84b@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biagioli
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: m.piredda@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piredda
authors.affiliation: Haematology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mariarita.mauroni@ptvonline.it.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mauroni
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: rosaria.alvaro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: m.demarinis@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: De Marinis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Loneliness; Patient isolation; Phenomenology; Social isolation