Nurses' perspectives on patient involvement in an emergency department: An interview study

Background: Patient involvement in healthcare decisions is key to patient-centred care, and it is an area subject to continuous political focus. However, patient-centred care and patient involvement are challenging to implement in an emergency department (ED) setting, as EDs tend to focus on structures, processes, and outcomes. This study explored nurses’ perspectives on patient involvement in an ED setting. 

Method: This study applied an explorative design and conducted focus group interviews to generate data; abductive reasoning was chosen as the analytical method. Two focus groups were held in February 2021, each including six ED nurses. 

Results: Four themes were generated: notions of patient involvement, significant factors, ED culture, and management. Nurses considered patient involvement an optional add-on and, to some extent, a matter of tokenism carried forward by managers who are afraid of complaints and bad media coverage. Patient involvement in the form of providing information to patients was considered important yet less critical than life-saving and technical tasks. 

Conclusion: ED nurses’ perspectives on patient involvement are particularly influenced by the technical and life-saving culture in an ED. Information provision is considered patient involvement and is decided and administered by nurses.