"Tu" or "Vous?" A European qualitative study of dignity and communication with older people in health and social care settings.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the experiences of communication between older people and health and social care providers in six European countries.


METHODS
Focus groups were carried out with groups of older people (91 focus groups, 391 participants), and health and social care professionals (85 focus groups, 424 participants), in order to gain insights into concepts of good communications. Data collection and analysis continued concurrently according to the method of constant comparison.


RESULTS
Different styles of communication between professionals and older people were found to be capable of enhancing or jeopardising dignity. The use of appropriate forms of address, listening, giving people choice, including them, respecting their need for privacy and politeness, and making them feel valued emerged as significant ways to maintain older peoples' sense of self-worth and dignity. Despite being aware of good communication practices, health and social care professionals often failed to implement them. Lack of time, staff, resource scarcity, regulation and bureaucracy were cited as barriers, as was a lack of awareness and effort.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings have important implications for health and social care professionals when they engage with older people.
Woolhead
Gillian
G
MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, Department of Social Medicine, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK. Gillian.Woolhead@bristol.ac.uk
Tadd
Win
W
Boix-Ferrer
Josep Antoni
JA
Krajcik
Stefan
S
Schmid-Pfahler
Barbara
B
Spjuth
Barbro
B
Stratton
David
D
Dieppe
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012660:Semantics; D012945:Social Values