title: Being in protective isolation following autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A phenomenological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the lived experiences of patients with haematological malignancies who had been in protective isolation during their hospital stay for autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although protective isolation aims to benefit patients' health by preventing infection, it could also imply harmful psycho-social implications for patients, such as loneliness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted in an Italian university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with haematological malignancies who had been in protective isolation for autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation were enrolled. They were interviewed during their weekly ambulatory visits, which are usually carried out up to 100 days post-transplant, and asked about their stay in isolation. Giorgi's method of analysis was used to describe the experience of protective isolation from the patient' perspective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight themes emerged: isolation is a defence, threats from which patients have to defend themselves, rules for defence, the burden of the defence, external strategies for defence, inner strengths for defence, defending loved ones and outcomes of the defence. The general structure was expressed as a defence from suffering.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While fighting a hard battle against cancer, informants largely accepted the strict isolation measure and represented it as a shield for an effective defence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses should provide emotional and social support to help patients feel like active fighters and strengthen their strategies for an effective defence from suffering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, School of Nursing, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biagioli
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piredda
authors.affiliation: Haematology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy Unit, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ombretta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Annibali
authors.affiliation: Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iacorossi
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matarese
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, School of Nursing, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: De Marinis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support
keywords: haematopoietic stem cell transplantation; loneliness; patient isolation; social isolation