Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited

Several studies have been conducted examining the notion of dignity and how it is understood and experienced by people as they approach death.The purpose of this study was to use a quantitative approach to validate the Dignity Model, originally based on qualitative data.Themes and sub-themes from th...

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Main Authors: Chochinov, H., Kristjanson, Linda, Hack, T., Hassard, T., McClement, S., Harlos, M.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43046
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author Chochinov, H.
Kristjanson, Linda
Hack, T.
Hassard, T.
McClement, S.
Harlos, M.
author_facet Chochinov, H.
Kristjanson, Linda
Hack, T.
Hassard, T.
McClement, S.
Harlos, M.
author_sort Chochinov, H.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Several studies have been conducted examining the notion of dignity and how it is understood and experienced by people as they approach death.The purpose of this study was to use a quantitative approach to validate the Dignity Model, originally based on qualitative data.Themes and sub-themes from the Dignity Model were used to devise 22 items; patients were asked the extent to which they believed these specific issues were or could be related to their sense of dignity.Of 211 patients receiving palliative care, "not being treated with respect or understanding" (87.1%) and "feeling a burden to others" (87.1%) were the issues most identified as having an influence on their sense of dignity. All but 1 of the 22 items were endorsed by more than half of the patients; 16 items were endorsed by more than 70% of the patients. Demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and religious affiliation had an influence on what items patients ascribed to their sense of dignity. "Feeling life no longer had meaning or purpose" was the only vaiable to enter a logistic regression model predicting overall sense of dignity.This study provides further evidence supporting the validity of the Dignity Model. Items contained within this model provide a broad and inclusive range of issues and concerns that may influence a dying patient's sense of dignity. Sensitivity to these issues will draw care providers closer to being able to provide comprehensive, dignity conserving care.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-430462019-01-21T08:08:13Z Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited Chochinov, H. Kristjanson, Linda Hack, T. Hassard, T. McClement, S. Harlos, M. burden dignity model Dignity terminally ill purpose meaning dying respect Several studies have been conducted examining the notion of dignity and how it is understood and experienced by people as they approach death.The purpose of this study was to use a quantitative approach to validate the Dignity Model, originally based on qualitative data.Themes and sub-themes from the Dignity Model were used to devise 22 items; patients were asked the extent to which they believed these specific issues were or could be related to their sense of dignity.Of 211 patients receiving palliative care, "not being treated with respect or understanding" (87.1%) and "feeling a burden to others" (87.1%) were the issues most identified as having an influence on their sense of dignity. All but 1 of the 22 items were endorsed by more than half of the patients; 16 items were endorsed by more than 70% of the patients. Demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and religious affiliation had an influence on what items patients ascribed to their sense of dignity. "Feeling life no longer had meaning or purpose" was the only vaiable to enter a logistic regression model predicting overall sense of dignity.This study provides further evidence supporting the validity of the Dignity Model. Items contained within this model provide a broad and inclusive range of issues and concerns that may influence a dying patient's sense of dignity. Sensitivity to these issues will draw care providers closer to being able to provide comprehensive, dignity conserving care. 2006 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43046 10.1089/jpm.2006.9.666 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc restricted
spellingShingle burden
dignity model
Dignity
terminally ill
purpose
meaning
dying
respect
Chochinov, H.
Kristjanson, Linda
Hack, T.
Hassard, T.
McClement, S.
Harlos, M.
Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
title Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
title_full Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
title_fullStr Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
title_full_unstemmed Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
title_short Dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
title_sort dignity in the terminally ill: revisited
topic burden
dignity model
Dignity
terminally ill
purpose
meaning
dying
respect
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43046