Accommodating autonomous; chronic patients' meaning of autonomy in clinical setting in Iranian in-patients: A grounded theory study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore autonomy in chronic patients in clinical settings of Iran. The present study was performed in 2014 through a qualitative approach and the Grounded Theory with the participation of 34 persons (23 patients, 9 nurses, 2 physicians) who were recruited through purposeful and theoretical sampling. The data were collected through comprehensive interviews and observation of the hospitals in Tabriz and Hamadan, Iran. The findings were analyzed with the MAXQDA10 sing the analysis method of Corbin and Strauss (2008). Data analysis resulted in 5 main categories and one central category. The five main categories were exposure to paternalism, attempts to express their opinions, attempts to prove their ability, attempts to shared decision-making and attempts to self-determination. The central category was accommodating autonomous, which demonstrates the perception of chronic patients of their autonomy during hospitalization. Generally, though changes in patients' health and lives can create serious threats to their autonomy, patients comply with condition. By considering this moral concept, medical teams can help patients enhance their autonomy during relationship.