Fear of Being Judged: A Phenomenological Hermeneutical Study of Encountering Ambulance Staff When Living in Stigmatized Neighbourhoods

Aims and Objectives To elucidate meanings of encountering ambulance staff when living in stigmatized neighbourhoods. Methodological Design and Justification The study was conducted using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach based on narrative interviews. Ethical Issues and Approval The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Research Methods A phenomenological hermeneutical analysis was conducted. Interviews were performed with 18 persons living in stigmatized neighbourhoods who had lived experiences of encountering ambulance staff, either as relatives or as patients. Results These encounters carry meanings of being dependent on how the staff act in situations marked by fear, involving fear for one's own or a relative's health, or fear of being judged based on ethnicity, culture, or place of residence. Study Limitations The participants shared similar demographic backgrounds, and recruitment through gatekeepers may have constrained the range of perspectives. As an interpretive method, the findings represent one possible understanding, and other interpretations may emerge from different backgrounds or theoretical lenses. Conclusions Encounters with ambulance staff carried meanings of fear of being judged and of dependence, while ambulance staff's interpersonal actions could either reinforce or alleviate these meanings.