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Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zato stand back from his subject and the data and to sociologically interpret theirviewpoints. Through the investigation it was possible to develop a holisticpicture of how the subjects perceived their medical encounters and themeanings that these held for them. These perceptions and meanings constituteda perspective of the patient world at the setting.During the analysis of the data definite patterns and dimensions emerged. Theirvisibility was largely a function of the multiple methods used to collect thedata. Certain critical factors in the treatment and situation of elderly patients atthe centre appeared which are important in an evaluation. The most prominentof these critical factors were the following: (1) Certain aspects of theprocedures at the centre do hold the potential for the depersonalisation ofelderly patients. (2) Many elderly patients do not have insight into the chronicnature of their illnesses and hold unreasonable expectations of a cure. In regardto the first critical factor, most subjects did not appear to recognisedehumanising aspects of the care and accepted these as part of the service andthe setting. In regard to the second factor, lack of insight and unfulfilledexpectations of a cure probably led to the subjects’ nonadherence to therapeuticregimens, the failure of the condition to respond, and the consequentdissatisfaction of the subjects with the medical treatments that they receive atthe centre.Where satisfaction with entire encounters or aspects of care was indicated, it ispossible that behind much of this lay an uncritical acceptance or lack ofdiscrimination of the treatment stemming from apathy and acquiescence. Inthis event, states of apathy or resignation could be indicative of extremealienation of these subjects. It could thus be asserted tentatively that much ofthe treatment and many aspects of the care that elderly persons receive at thecentre do hold the potential for depersonalisation and alienation but areinstitutionalised and pass unquestioned as outpatient centre “culture”. Thus,elderly persons are shaped by and in turn create this social structure.6. CONCLUSIONSThe conclusions of the study pertain to both the treatment situation at thecentre and the appropriateness of the qualitative framework and methodologythat was employed.6.1 Evaluation of the treatment situationIn terms of the qualitative framework used for the investigation, the “evidence”could not be used to substantiate the hypotheses, although the hypotheses didlend guidance to the investigation and certain findings do suggest some supportfor the hypotheses and in turn call for further theorising.Certain major difficulties and inconveniences, as perceived by the subjects,218