Perception of Privacy: An Ethnocentric Study of Turkish Muslim Female Surgical Patients

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the perception of privacy among Turkish Muslim female patients who have undergone surgery.

Design: A descriptive-qualitative study design was employed.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 study participants.

Findings: The findings revealed three main themes and two subthemes. The main themes were physical privacy, the influence of culture, and responses to privacy violations. The subthemes pertained solely to responses to privacy violations and included behavioral and emotional responses.

Conclusions: The participants' perception of privacy was primarily focused on the physical aspects of privacy. Muslim and Turkish cultures played a significant role in shaping the patients' perception of privacy. The participants reported experiencing emotional and behavioral responses when their privacy was violated. This study reveals the perception of privacy among 10 Turkish Muslim female patients, emphasizing the significance of understanding and considering this perception in nursing care.

Keywords: Ethnocentric study; Turkey; culture; female; privacy; surgical patients.