Att läka i naturen

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine four female patients' experiences of two different types of health care facilities. The patients had been treated for psychiatric disorders in a psychiatric patient facility in a hospital environment and also in a nature- and animal assisted healthcare facility. In addition, the aim of this study was to take part of their personal comparisons and any similarities and differences between these health care facilities. The four participants in this study were between 22-57 years of age, and they participated in a semi-structured interview. The interviews were transcribed and processed through a realistic, thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: Autonomy and power, effect of time, stress-bureaucracy, natural environment and animals and inequalities in care. These five themes described the respondent's experiences of autonomy within the psychiatric care, and of stress and bureaucratic obstacles during their period of medical leave. The differences between the two health care facilities and the patients’ experiences are described in the last and final theme. According to the biopsychosocial model, we explore the results of the interviews through the different coping strategies which the respondents had been using. Since there is a lack of comparative studies between nature- and animal assisted therapy and psychiatric care, this study aims to give an indication on how female patients experience the two in a comparative perspective. The result shows similarities and differences in the participants' experiences of psychiatric care. Furthermore, the discussion covers their strategies to handle stressors and describes suggestions for future research which could contribute to the recovery for those on medical leave.