A companionship between strangers - the hospital environment as a challenge in patient-patient interaction in oncology wards.

Aim: To present an identification and discussion of the impact of the hospital environment on interaction among people with cancer.

Background: In recent years, researchers have focused on identifying and describing features of the hospital environment that promote healing, recovery and well-being. It has been discovered that architectural features affect hospitalized patients both positively and negatively.

Patient-patient interaction--caring and sharing.

Aim: The aim of this study is to provide an understanding of the significance of hospitalized patients' interpersonal interaction with fellow patients in an infectious disease ward in a large Danish hospital.

Method: A qualitative approach was selected using participant observation and semi-structured qualitative interviews. Six female participants at the age of 32-81 years with different types of infectious diseases accepted to participate in interviews.

An ambiguous relationship--a qualitative meta-synthesis of hospitalized somatic patients' experience of interaction with fellow patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide a clear view of the existing knowledge regarding patients' significance to fellow patients during hospitalization.

Method: Sandelowski and Barroso's approach to qualitative meta-synthesis was selected and systematically used for collecting and assessing findings from qualitative studies. Data consisted of seven qualitative studies published as one book, four scientific articles and two doctoral theses from Scotland, UK, Norway and Denmark.