The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care
Abstract Background The pandemic Era has forced palliative care professionals to use a dignity-in-care approach in different settings from the classic ones of palliative care: acute and intensive care. We explored the meanings of dignity for patients, their family members, and clinicians who have ex...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-023-01311-4 |
| _version_ | 1797413677233602560 |
|---|---|
| author | Loredana Buonaccorso Ludovica De Panfilis Harvey Max Chochinov Gianfranco Martucci Marco Massari Monica Cocchi Maria Chiara Bassi Silvia Tanzi |
| author_facet | Loredana Buonaccorso Ludovica De Panfilis Harvey Max Chochinov Gianfranco Martucci Marco Massari Monica Cocchi Maria Chiara Bassi Silvia Tanzi |
| author_sort | Loredana Buonaccorso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The pandemic Era has forced palliative care professionals to use a dignity-in-care approach in different settings from the classic ones of palliative care: acute and intensive care. We explored the meanings of dignity for patients, their family members, and clinicians who have experienced COVID-19 in the acute and intensive care setting. Methods A qualitative, prospective study by means of semi-structured interviews with patients hospitalized for COVID-19, family members, and clinicians who care for them. Findings Between March 2021 and October 2021, we interviewed 16 participants: five physicians, three nurses, and eight patients. None of the patients interviewed consented for family members to participate: they considered it important to protect them from bringing the painful memory back to the period of their hospitalization. Several concepts and themes arose from the interviews: humanity, reciprocity, connectedness, and relationship, as confirmed by the literature. Interestingly, both healthcare professionals and patients expressed the value of informing and being informed about clinical conditions and uncertainties to protect dignity. Conclusions Dignity should be enhanced by all healthcare professionals, not only those in palliative care or end-of-life but also in emergency departments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:21:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-978a39da94a44580a23358a0ed8a7f96 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:21:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-978a39da94a44580a23358a0ed8a7f962023-12-03T12:40:16ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2023-11-0122111110.1186/s12904-023-01311-4The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive careLoredana Buonaccorso0Ludovica De Panfilis1Harvey Max Chochinov2Gianfranco Martucci3Marco Massari4Monica Cocchi5Maria Chiara Bassi6Silvia Tanzi7Psycho-Oncology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio EmiliaLegal Medicine and Bioethics, Azienda USL-IRCSS di Reggio EmiliaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of ManitobaLocal Network of Palliative Care, AUSL ModenaInfectious Diseases Unit, Azienda USL-IRCSS di Reggio EmiliaHospital Infections Office, Hospital Medical Directorate, Azienda USL-IRCSS di Reggio EmiliaMedical Library, Azienda USL-IRCSS di Reggio EmiliaPalliative Care Unit, Azienda USL-IRCSS di Reggio EmiliaAbstract Background The pandemic Era has forced palliative care professionals to use a dignity-in-care approach in different settings from the classic ones of palliative care: acute and intensive care. We explored the meanings of dignity for patients, their family members, and clinicians who have experienced COVID-19 in the acute and intensive care setting. Methods A qualitative, prospective study by means of semi-structured interviews with patients hospitalized for COVID-19, family members, and clinicians who care for them. Findings Between March 2021 and October 2021, we interviewed 16 participants: five physicians, three nurses, and eight patients. None of the patients interviewed consented for family members to participate: they considered it important to protect them from bringing the painful memory back to the period of their hospitalization. Several concepts and themes arose from the interviews: humanity, reciprocity, connectedness, and relationship, as confirmed by the literature. Interestingly, both healthcare professionals and patients expressed the value of informing and being informed about clinical conditions and uncertainties to protect dignity. Conclusions Dignity should be enhanced by all healthcare professionals, not only those in palliative care or end-of-life but also in emergency departments.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-023-01311-4DignityMeaningCOVID-19Intensive carePalliative care |
| spellingShingle | Loredana Buonaccorso Ludovica De Panfilis Harvey Max Chochinov Gianfranco Martucci Marco Massari Monica Cocchi Maria Chiara Bassi Silvia Tanzi The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care BMC Palliative Care Dignity Meaning COVID-19 Intensive care Palliative care |
| title | The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care |
| title_full | The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care |
| title_fullStr | The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care |
| title_full_unstemmed | The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care |
| title_short | The meaning of dignity in care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in acute and intensive care |
| title_sort | meaning of dignity in care during the covid 19 pandemic a qualitative study in acute and intensive care |
| topic | Dignity Meaning COVID-19 Intensive care Palliative care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-023-01311-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT loredanabuonaccorso themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT ludovicadepanfilis themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT harveymaxchochinov themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT gianfrancomartucci themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT marcomassari themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT monicacocchi themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT mariachiarabassi themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT silviatanzi themeaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT loredanabuonaccorso meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT ludovicadepanfilis meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT harveymaxchochinov meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT gianfrancomartucci meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT marcomassari meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT monicacocchi meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT mariachiarabassi meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare AT silviatanzi meaningofdignityincareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyinacuteandintensivecare |