The experience of isolation for infection control in hospital or being cared for in an “all single room” hospital
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experience of isolation for infection control in hospital or being cared for in an “all single room” hospital: a qualitative exploration of the patient and family perspective
IRAS ID
281527
Contact name
Lawrie Elliott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Glasgow Caledonian University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
In UK hospitals, patients who are infected or colonised by organisms which are resistant to drugs that are normally used to treat them (known as multidrug resistant organisms -MDROs- or antimicrobial resistant organisms) are required to be cared for in isolation in single rooms.
However, evidence suggests that being cared for in isolation can be an emotional journey for patients who often experience loneliness, depression, stigma, and disconnection from others. Patients confined in their rooms seem unable to understand, or are unaware of, the difference between being infected and being colonised (carrying an infected microorganism within the body) and the resultant isolation precautions which can leave them unclear about the care received.
Taking into consideration the contemporary context of infection prevention control and how the length of hospital stay has changed since the earlier published work reviewed, it is unclear if the experience of being cared for in isolation is influenced by being confined to a single room, by the length of stay, or by the patient’s illness or underlying conditions, or by others factors. In addition, there is no evidence related to the family member perspective on isolation and the impact that the care received has on the family and their relationships.
Patients and their close family members will be interviewed separately to explore and to understand their experiences and their perceptions of being cared for in isolation in order to provide more knowledge of the subject. It will also allow us to develop recommendations for more personalised care tailored to patients’ and families’ needs and to inform future research and policy.REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
20/WS/0173
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion