6533b7ddfe1ef96bd1274b2c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

La représentation des causes de l'état de santé par les infirmiers et les points de vue envisagés des patients et des aidants naturels : une approche socionormative

subject

description

This study examines the representation of the determining factors of patients' states of health in therapeutic care situations. We describe the average representation of experienced hospital nurses (n=44) and the differences which they consider to exist between their own and their patients' points of view. Taking as our starting point the purpose of the care provided and the asymmetry of the carer/patient relationship, we hypothesize, on the one hand, that nurses will have a representation of their patients' state of health which is based on the care to be provided, with the factors determining the state of health being necessarily perceived as having a general impact on patients' lives while still being remediable, i.e. capable of changing and being controlled by the provided care. On the other hand, we expect them to attribute a passive position and attitude to their patients, with the factors determining their state of health being necessarily perceived as being out of their own control. The results and the analysis of the representations reported as being those of the patients and their families seem to justify this perception and role of carer: the supposed representations of the latter would appear to be convergent but less focused on health problems and would tend to minimize the patient's involvement, in particular when the state of health declines. The results are discussed with reference to the Health Belief Model and the social norm of internality as well as the professional practices observed in hospital environments.