'Understanding and being understood' as a creative caring phenomenon--in care of patients with stroke and aphasia.

Full Abstract

Five care providers particularly successful at communicating with patients with communication difficulties were video-recorded together with three patients with aphasia after stroke, during morning care activities. The care providers were then interviewed immediately after the video-recordings, about their experiences of communicating with such patients. The interviews with the care providers were interpreted by means of a phenomenological hermeneutic method. Co-creating was the main theme found. Care providers invite the patient to participate in the creative act of communication. They have a communicative attitude and show interest in the patients' personal desires. The care providers encounter the patient as a presence in a caring communion. In part, care providers communicate by continuously conveying their presence to the patient and even creating availability in a close and open intersubjective relationship. A relaxed and supportive atmosphere facilitates reciprocity between care provider and patient. The communication is not technical or strategic; instead care providers share the patients' experiences in a silent dialogue. This silent dialogue involves sharing the patients' feelings and thus receiving messages from the patient.

Author information

Author/s: Sundin, Karin (K); Jansson, Lilian (L);

Affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Ornsköldsvik, Sweden. karin.sundin(-atsign-)mh.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of clinical nursing (J Clin Nurs), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jan; vol 12 (issue 1) : pp 107-16

Dates: Created 2003/01/09; Completed 2003/02/13; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 12519256, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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