Phenomenology & Ethnography: Examining Hospital Cultures and the Lived Experiences of Patients Interacting with Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

This exploratory ethnographic and phenomenological study examined hospital cultures, primarily emergency rooms, and the lived experiences of patients interacting with healthcare professionals in the United States. The salient themes that emerged from the thematic analysis of the narratives shared by a woman living with asthma in conjunction with the lived experiences articulated by five other patients coming to emergency rooms for stomach pain/pregnancy, arthritis/joint pain, leg injury, depression, etc., were: 1) Long wait times, 2) Poor and Unprofessional Attitude, 3) Neglect, 4) Feeling Rushed, 5) Having to Ask for Care, 6) Discrimination, and 7) Support from Hospital Patient Advocates and Other Patients. While the patients in this study endured marginalization and microaggressions, those challenges often were overcome with assistance from hospital patient advocates as well as other patients. Ultimately, patients in this study empowered themselves to achieve their healthcare goals.