| Summary: | Background: Mental illness has increased in Sweden and the individuals seeking care expect to be met with respect. The way patients perceive themselves to be treated by health care professionals plays a central part to care and treatment of patients, and the patients experience will decide how future care will proceed. The majority of complaints from patients with mental illness suggest that the way they are treated in health care is inadequate. For people with mental illness it is crucial how they perceive themselves to be treated since poor treatment can lead to reluctance in seeking future help. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe how people with mental illness perceive themselves to be treated in primary health care. Method: A literature review was chosen as a method and data was collected from seven articles, both qualitative and quantitative. Results: The results were analyzed and compiled into three main themes; (1) To feel exposed to generalization, (2) To feel respected and (3) To feel involved. The subthemes describe experiences of; focus on medicine, one size fits all, lack of knowledge, to be listened to, humanity, attitudes, time, information and dialogue. Conclusion: There are both positive and negative experiences of how patients perceive themselves to be treated in primary health care but the negative experiences are predominant. This study can lead to an increased understanding and knowledge of how the primary care professionals should treat people with mental illness and which actions should be avoided.
|
|---|
