This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of patients on contact precautions. While current literature reports mixed compliance rates among healthcare-workers, increased workload for staff, less time spent at the bedside, higher rates of adverse events, and higher rates of anxiety and depression for patients on contact precautions, few studies describe the patient's perception. Interviews were conducted identifying the following themes: patient understanding of contact precautions, cleanliness and dirtiness, family/visitor perceptions, patient priorities, delays in care and staff attitudes, and protecting not isolating. Contact precautions are not perceived as burdensome, isolating, or distressing by most patients. Families and patients showing signs of distress should be supported with information about transmission risks, infectious status, and the use of contact precautions routinely and frequently during a hospital stay. Staff compliance with contact precautions is regularly observed and analyzed by patients as reflective of hospital cleanliness.
","abstract_html":"<p>This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of patients on contact precautions. While current literature reports mixed compliance rates among healthcare-workers, increased workload for staff, less time spent at the bedside, higher rates of adverse events, and higher rates of anxiety and depression for patients on contact precautions, few studies describe the patient's perception. Interviews were conducted identifying the following themes: patient understanding of contact precautions, cleanliness and dirtiness, family/visitor perceptions, patient priorities, delays in care and staff attitudes, and protecting not isolating. Contact precautions are not perceived as burdensome, isolating, or distressing by most patients. Families and patients showing signs of distress should be supported with information about transmission risks, infectious status, and the use of contact precautions routinely and frequently during a hospital stay. Staff compliance with contact precautions is regularly observed and analyzed by patients as reflective of hospital cleanliness.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ray, Amanda L."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Yale University School of Nursing","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Laura Andrews"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:16:00Z","subjects":["Contact Precautions, Isolation, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Qualitative study, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysndt/1010","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Laura Andrews"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ray, Amanda L."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Yale University School of Nursing"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Contact Precautions, Isolation, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Qualitative study, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysndt/1010"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of patients on contact precautions. While current literature reports mixed compliance rates among healthcare-workers, increased workload for staff, less time spent at the bedside, higher rates of adverse events, and higher rates of anxiety and depression for patients on contact precautions, few studies describe the patient's perception. Interviews were conducted identifying the following themes: patient understanding of contact precautions, cleanliness and dirtiness, family/visitor perceptions, patient priorities, delays in care and staff attitudes, and protecting not isolating. Contact precautions are not perceived as burdensome, isolating, or distressing by most patients. Families and patients showing signs of distress should be supported with information about transmission risks, infectious status, and the use of contact precautions routinely and frequently during a hospital stay. Staff compliance with contact precautions is regularly observed and analyzed by patients as reflective of hospital cleanliness.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Lived Experience Of Inpatients On Contact Precautions"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Laura Andrews"],"dc:creator":["Ray, Amanda L."],"dc:description.abstract":["This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of patients on contact precautions. While current literature reports mixed compliance rates among healthcare-workers, increased workload for staff, less time spent at the bedside, higher rates of adverse events, and higher rates of anxiety and depression for patients on contact precautions, few studies describe the patient's perception. Interviews were conducted identifying the following themes: patient understanding of contact precautions, cleanliness and dirtiness, family/visitor perceptions, patient priorities, delays in care and staff attitudes, and protecting not isolating. Contact precautions are not perceived as burdensome, isolating, or distressing by most patients. Families and patients showing signs of distress should be supported with information about transmission risks, infectious status, and the use of contact precautions routinely and frequently during a hospital stay. Staff compliance with contact precautions is regularly observed and analyzed by patients as reflective of hospital cleanliness.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysndt/1010"],"dc:subject":["Contact Precautions, Isolation, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Qualitative study, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus"],"dc:title":["The Lived Experience Of Inpatients On Contact Precautions"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Yale University School of Nursing"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:16:00Z"}