La subjetividad de pacientes hospitalizados frente a la pérdida de autonomía.

Abstract

This research addressed the subjective experience of loss of autonomy in hospitalized patients in the Neurology and Oncology departments of a hospital in Guayaquil. The importance of this work lies in the urgent need to observe the differences between institutional protocols, focused on biological recovery, and the subjective dimension of patients, often silenced by the urgency of the hospital setting. The overall objective was to understand subjective responses to the loss of autonomy, differentiating it from a physical limitation. Regarding methodology, a qualitative approach was chosen under an interpretive paradigm and a descriptive method. The instruments used included bibliographic analysis and case studies (M.C. and I.C.). The results revealed a significant distinction between functional independence (being able to eat alone, move without assistance) and subjective autonomy (the patient's sense of control). The studies demonstrated that recovering motor function is not the same as recovering lost identity. Finally, it was concluded that the psychoanalytic intervention helped to accommodate the uniqueness of the patient's suffering, thus allowing for subjective reconstruction, beyond the physical consequences.