ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS IN NURSING PRACTICE Body care experienced by people hospitalized with severe respiratory disease Kirsten Lomborg PhD RN Research Assistant, Department of Nursing Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Agnes Bjørn MPhil PhD RN Associate Professor, University College Oresund, Copenhagen, Denmark Ronald Dahl MD Professor, Department of Respiratory Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark Marit Kirkevold EdD RN Professor, Department of Nursing Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Accepted for publication 2 September 2004 Correspondence: Kirsten Lomborg, Department of Nursing Science, Aarhus University, Hoegh Guldbergsgade 6A, DK – 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. E-mail: kl@sygeplejevid.au.dk LOMBORG K., BJØRN A., DAHL R. & KIRKEVOLD M. (2005) LOMBORG K., BJØRN A., DAHL R. & KIRKEVOLD M. (2005) Journal of Advanced Nursing 50(3), 262–271 Body care experienced by people hospitalized with severe respiratory disease Aim. The paper gives a theoretical account of experiences of assisted personal body care (APBC) in hospitalized patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Background. Body care has been identified as a central but underestimated area of nursing. Hospitalized patients with severe COPD suffer from breathlessness on exertion and are dependent on help with personal body care. Studies have described patient strategies for managing breathlessness and preferences regarding nursing care during hospitalization. Yet the problems that patients can experience because of their inability to manage personal body care by themselves have not previously been explored. This study explored patients’ experiences of being assisted with personal body care. Methods. A grounded theory methodology was used with a convenience sample of 12 patients. Data were gathered from participant observation of sessions of APBC, in-depth interviews after the observed sessions and measurement of breathlessness perceived by patients before and after the sessions. Findings. The patients perceived body care as a significant daily activity that needed to be carried out in order to preserve their integrity. Dependency and breathlessness, however, impeded the performance of body care activities and patients were struggling for self-preservation. They managed APBC by using a threefold strategy of not letting go, coping with dependency, and minimizing the risk of escalating breathlessness. Two dilemmas were identified as being inherent to the strategy. Conclusion. Increased knowledge of the complexities involved in providing assistance might improve nurses’ ability to facilitate patients in managing APBC. Dependency is a central issue to address in order to support patients’ efforts to preserve integrity and resolve dilemmas inherent to the strategy they use. 262 Ó 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd