Under a watchful eye : the lived experiences of clients under close observation during in-patient care : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

The lived experiences of individuals who have had close observation are generally underexplored, yet these reveal genuine insights developed through an intervention of controversial nature. This study aimed to explore these insights so that they guide change towards more therapeutic yield from close observation. Using a qualitative study method and the application of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), a cohort of consenting adults (n=6) who had experienced close observation during inpatient care, were interviewed, and the transcripts analysed into three superordinate themes: in shackles, the good, the bad and the ugly, and light at the end of the tunnel. Under close observation, participants recalled perceiving threatened freedom, misinterpretation and wrong judgement, intrusion of privacy and control, uncertainty, protection, appreciation for therapeutic engagement, together with quality expectations and an urge for things to be done better. Findings were in line with those in extant literature, and above all reaffirmed the need of a sound therapeutic bond throughout the whole duration of close observation. Suggestions from these findings reflect the true expectations of the recipients of close observation, hence their application to practise, in particular by the nursing profession, would be considered as an effort to solidify individualistic therapeutic approaches.