title: Relational interactions preserving dignity experience: Perceptions of persons living with dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dignity experience in the daily lives of people living with dementia is influenced by their relational interactions with others. However, literature reviews show that knowledge concerning crucial interactional qualities, preserving their sense of dignity, is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore and describe crucial qualities of relational interactions preserving dignity experience among people with dementia, while interacting with family, social network, and healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was founded upon Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics, and an exploratory design employing qualitative research interviews was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 11 individuals diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia, living in their own homes, were recruited from two Hospital Memory Clinics in Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  In recruiting persons with dementia as study participants, sensitivity toward their life history, autonomy, integrity, relationships, and dignity is essential. These standards, and the ethical principles of moral sensitivity to their vulnerability, doing no harm, showing justice, and respecting their personal utility, guided our research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main interactional qualities preserving the participants' dignity experience were found: Experiencing love and confirmation; experiencing social inclusion and fellowship; experiencing humane warmth and understanding within a caring culture, while being met as an equal human being. A total of 10 sub-qualities were identified within these 3 main qualities.
  Dignity experience among the participants was preserved when certain interactional qualities were present in their interactions with family, social network, and healthcare professionals. While supporting some of the findings of previous studies, this study adds new knowledge on the subject. Knowledge of relational interactions toward preserving dignity experience should be a fundamental part of future dementia care practice. Based on the results of this study, an empirical-theoretical model was developed for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: University of Bergen, Norway; Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway Oscar.Tranvag@hib.no.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tranvåg
authors.affiliation: University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Karin Anna
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway.
authors.forename: Dagfinn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nåden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D066297:Hermeneutics; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D028723:Personhood; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Dementia care; dignity; family; healthcare professionals; interactions; social network