BACKGROUND: Preserving patient dignity is a sentinel premise of palliative care. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of factors influencing preservation of dignity in the last chapter of life. METHODS: We conducted an open-ended written survey of 100 multidisciplinary providers (69% response rate) and responses were categorized to identify 2 main themes, 5 subthemes, and 10 individual factors that were used to create the preservation of dignity card-sort tool (p-DCT). The 10-item rank order tool was administered to a cohort of community dwelling Filipino Americans (n = 140, age mean = 61.3, 45% male and 55% female). A Spearman correlation matrix was constructed for all the 10 individual factors as well as the themes and subthemes based on the data generated by the subjects. RESULTS: The individual factors were minimally correlated with each other indicating that each factor was an independent stand-alone factor. The median, 25th and 75th percentile ranks were calculated and "s/he has self-respect" (intrinsic theme, self-esteem subtheme) emerged as the most important factor (mean rank 3.0 and median rank 2.0) followed by "others treat her/him with respect" (extrinsic theme, respect subtheme) with a mean rank = 3.6 and median = 3.0. CONCLUSION: The p-DCT is a simple, rank order card-sort tool that may help clinicians identify patients' perceptions of key factors influencing the preservation of their dignity in the last chapter of life.
BACKGROUND: Preserving patient dignity is a sentinel premise of palliative care. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of factors influencing preservation of dignity in the last chapter of life. METHODS: We conducted an open-ended written survey of 100 multidisciplinary providers (69% response rate) and responses were categorized to identify 2 main themes, 5 subthemes, and 10 individual factors that were used to create the preservation of dignity card-sort tool (p-DCT). The 10-item rank order tool was administered to a cohort of community dwelling Filipino Americans (n = 140, age mean = 61.3, 45% male and 55% female). A Spearman correlation matrix was constructed for all the 10 individual factors as well as the themes and subthemes based on the data generated by the subjects. RESULTS: The individual factors were minimally correlated with each other indicating that each factor was an independent stand-alone factor. The median, 25th and 75th percentile ranks were calculated and "s/he has self-respect" (intrinsic theme, self-esteem subtheme) emerged as the most important factor (mean rank 3.0 and median rank 2.0) followed by "others treat her/him with respect" (extrinsic theme, respect subtheme) with a mean rank = 3.6 and median = 3.0. CONCLUSION: The p-DCT is a simple, rank order card-sort tool that may help clinicians identify patients' perceptions of key factors influencing the preservation of their dignity in the last chapter of life.
Authors: Harvey Max Chochinov; Thomas Hack; Thomas Hassard; Linda J Kristjanson; Susan McClement; Mike Harlos Journal: J Palliat Care Date: 2004 Impact factor: 2.250
Authors: Jordan M Braciszewski; Tanya B Tran; Roland S Moore; Beth C Bock; Golfo K Tzilos; Patricia Chamberlain; Robert L Stout Journal: J Appl Biobehav Res Date: 2017-04-19
Authors: Ardith Z Doorenbos; Carmencita Abaquin; Margot E Perrin; Linda Eaton; Araceli O Balabagno; Tessa Rue; Rita Ramos Journal: Int J Palliat Nurs Date: 2011-03
Authors: Eefje M Sizoo; Martin J B Taphoorn; Bernard Uitdehaag; Jan J Heimans; Luc Deliens; Jaap C Reijneveld; H Roeline W Pasman Journal: Oncologist Date: 2013-01-18