Patient Dignity in Iranian Clinical Care Settings as Perceived by Physicians, Caregivers, and Patients

Abstract

Introduction

All over the world, healthcare team members are recommended to respect patients’ human dignity. However, the dignity of hospitalized patients is not preserved in many cases. Due to the abstract, complex, and cultural nature of the concept of human dignity, further studies are required to precisely determine the different aspects of this concept.

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of physicians, nurses, family caregivers, and hospitalized patients with regard to patient dignity in Iranian clinical setting.

Materials and Methods

This is a qualitative, exploratory study in which physicians, nurses, family caregivers, and patients were recruited from 2 educational hospitals located in an urban area in Iran from April 2016 to February 2017 using the purposive sampling method (n = 24). Data were collected through individual interviews and subsequently analyzed using conventional content analysis in the software MAXQDA 2007, VERBI^O`.

Results

Three major themes emerged from analyses of the data obtained from the interviews: a peaceful environment, respect, and comprehensive support.

Conclusion

From the participants’ point of view, in order for their dignity to be preserved, patients need to be hospitalized in a peaceful environment in which they are treated with empathy, they receive comprehensive support, and the care settings are managed properly. Furthermore, it is important to respect patient’s values and beliefs, to provide unbiased care and treatment, and to maintain patient’s autonomy in order to maintain hospitalized patients’ dignity.

Keywords:

• dignity
• respect
• physician
• healthcare providers
• nurse
• family caregiver
• patient
• health care ethics

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The present study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran (Code: IR.SUMS.REC. 1396.S197). Before each interview, the participants were informed about the objectives of the study, confidentiality, reasons for recording the interviews, and the role of the interviewer/researcher. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to the doctors, nurses, family caregivers, and patients who participated in the study, as well as the authorities of the hospitals where the study was conducted.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest regarding the research, authorship, this work, or publication of the article.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.