Space, liminarity and sociability: ethnography of the dinning room in a hospital unit

• Main Authors: Lucas Pereira de Melo (Author), Maria Helena Lenardt (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Universidad de Alicante, 2014-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1699-6003; 10.7184/cuid.2014.39.09
• Keywords: antropologia médica; relações interpessoais; equipe de assistência ao paciente; unidades hospitalares; etnografia; Nursing; RT1-120
• Source: Cultura de los Cuidados, Vol 0, Iss 39, Pp 71-83 (2014)

This ethnographic study aimed to interpret the structural and symbolic dimensions of the dinning room through the social interactions between the professionals of the patient team care of a Trauma Unit in an university hospital. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The analysis was performed through the development of cultural domains, taxonomic analysis and cultural themes. Four cultural domains were identified: the liminal state and the communitas; the significance of the social interactions outside the dinning room; the meaning of the closed door; and, sharing experiences at the dinning room. The cultural theme was: "the dinning room it is a place that works for everything": space, liminarity, and sociability. We conclude that the existence of physical spaces for sociability between health professionals is essential to conduct the work process, and to the workers' quality of life.