Fear of Being Judged: A Phenomenological Hermeneutical Study of Encountering Ambulance Staff When Living in Stigmatized Neighbourhoods.
Sara Björklund, Peter Hagell, Petra Lilja Hagell and 1 others
PMID 42681818WHAT IT FOUND
People in stigmatized Swedish neighbourhoods described ambulance encounters as fear of being judged.
Some said they had to prove suffering; others said staff empathy and attention helped them feel safe.
Key findings
01Participants described ambulance encounters as overshadowed by fear of being judged because of background or place of residence.
02Some participants felt they had to prove suffering and submit to ambulance staff decisions to receive care.
03When ambulance staff showed empathy, professional skill, and attention to the person and family, participants felt safe and seen.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
All participants were born outside Sweden, and 13 of 18 were men, so the study may not capture the experiences of women or Swedish-born residents. Participants were recruited from one stigmatized neighbourhood through gatekeepers and snowball sampling, which may have favoured socially connected people and excluded isolated residents. The number of people who declined is unknown, and some who did not take part may have feared affecting future care. Interviews were relatively short and were not repeated, so some accounts may have been limited. The researchers' own preunderstandings and chosen theories shaped the themes, so another analysis might emphasise different aspects.
Declared interests
The study was supported by Region Blekinge and Jane and Dan Olssons Stiftelse. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the safe-encounter theme as proof that staff empathy improves clinical outcomes. This was a qualitative study of 18 people's experiences, not a test of an intervention.