title: How do nurses in palliative care perceive the concept of self-image?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nursing research indicates that serious illness and impending death influence the individual's self-image. Few studies define what self-image means. Thus it seems to be urgent to explore how nurses in palliative care perceive the concept of self-image, to get a deeper insight into the concept's applicability in palliative care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore how nurses in palliative care perceive the concept of self-image.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive design.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews with 17 nurses in palliative care were analysed using phenomenography. The study gained ethical approval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concept of self-image was perceived as both a familiar and an unfamiliar concept. Four categories of description with a gradually increasing complexity were distinguished: Identity, Self-assessment, Social function and Self-knowledge. They represent the collective understanding of the concept and are illustrated in a 'self-image map'. The identity-category emerged as the most comprehensive one and includes the understanding of 'Who I am' in a multidimensional way.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The collective understanding of the concept of self-image include multi-dimensional aspects which not always were evident for the individual nurse. Thus, the concept of self-image needs to be more verbalised and reflected on if nurses are to be comfortable with it and adopt it in their caring context. The 'self-image map' can be used in this reflection to expand the understanding of the concept. If the multi-dimensional aspects of the concept self-image could be explored there are improved possibilities to make identity-promoting strategies visible and support person-centred care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Lunds University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bibbi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: identity; palliative care; person-centred care; phenomenography; self-concept; self-esteem; self-image