title: Patients' perception of dignity in an Italian general hospital: a cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dignity is related to a patient's respect, privacy, information and autonomy. Maintaining dignity is defined as ethical goal of care. Although the importance of dignity has been widely recognized, there is limited research that investigates if dignity is really maintained in clinical practice and few studies have been conducted in acute hospital settings with adults across the age range. The aim of the study was to explore inpatients' perception of dignity in an hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 10 medical and surgical wards of a General Hospital in Modena (Italy). We collected a purposive sample of 100 patients by selecting 10 participants from each ward who met following criteria: hospitalized for more than three days, at least 18 years old, not mentally ill, willing to participate and able to speak Italian. We developed a 15-item anonymous questionnaire divided into three sections: "physical privacy", "information and autonomy", "nurse-patients respectful interaction".
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of positive (preserved dignity perception) were more frequent than negative (not preserved dignity perception) and no answers with a statistically significantly difference among the three sections (Pearson chi2 = 150.41, p < 0.0001). The frequency of positive or negative answers was statistically significantly related to the preservation of dignity according to the following questions (p < 0.005, multivariate logistic regression): "privacy to use the bathroom" and "respectful interaction", as protective factors and "maintaining of body privacy", "involvement in the care process", "correct communication" as risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dignity was quite but not completely maintained according to the standards expected by patients. According to patients' views, privacy of the body during medical procedures and respectful nurse-patient interactions were preserved more than information and verbal communication. Listening to patients' views on the specific factors they consider useful to maintaining their dignity can help in this process. Recognizing and focusing on these factors will help professionals to establish practical measures for preserving and promoting patients' dignity and providing more dignified care. Dignity should be extensively and systematically pursued as other important clinical goals.
authors: School of Nursing, Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Del Pozzo n° 71, Modena, 41124, Italy. paola.ferri@unimore.it.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Ferri
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Muzzalupo
authors: Rosaria
authors: R
authors: Di Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010465:Perception; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028723:Personhood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
references: J Med Ethics. 2012 Dec;38(12):723-8
references: 22933326
references: Nurs Ethics. 2005 May;12(3):273-87
references: 15921344
references: J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2013 Feb;20(1):1-8
references: 22417206
references: Int J Nurs Pract. 2002 Jun;8(3):143-51
references: 12000633
references: Soc Sci Med. 2007 Jan;64(2):292-302
references: 17034918
references: Nurs Ethics. 2011 Jul;18(4):474-84
references: 21788286
references: Nurs Ethics. 2014 Sep;21(6):659-72
references: 24561448
references: Int J Nurs Pract. 2009 Aug;15(4):227-30
references: 19703037
references: Nurs Ethics. 2005 Mar;12(2):156-66
references: 15791785
references: CJEM. 2009 Jul;11(4):365-74
references: 19594976
references: Soc Sci Med. 2002 Feb;54(3):433-43
references: 11824919
references: Tumori. 2012 Jul-Aug;98(4):491-500
references: 23052167
references: Nurs Ethics. 2013 Mar;20(2):168-77
references: 23131700
references: Br J Nurs. 2008 Mar 27-Apr 9;17(6):381-5
references: 18414308
references: J Clin Nurs. 2008 Oct;17(20):2709-17
references: 18808639
references: J Clin Nurs. 2004 Oct;13(7):806-15
references: 15361154
references: BMJ. 2007 Jul 28;335(7612):167-8
references: 17656508
references: Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2002 Summer;11(3):257-65
references: 12082906
references: Int J Nurs Pract. 2011 Aug;17(4):336-41
references: 21781212
references: J Clin Nurs. 2009 Jun;18(12):1784-92
references: 19646121
references: Nurs Ethics. 2014 May;21(3):323-34
references: 24077096
references: Int J Nurs Stud. 2009 Jan;46(1):23-36
references: 18790477
references: J Gerontol Nurs. 2006 May;32(5):42-8
references: 16708983
references: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Aug 20;23(24):5520-5
references: 16110012
references: J Med Ethics. 2002 Dec;28(6):368-72
references: 12468656
references: J Clin Nurs. 2011 Mar;20(5-6):794-801
references: 21320204
references: BMJ. 2007 Jul 28;335(7612):184-7
references: 17656543
references: Soc Sci Med. 2008 May;66(9):1939-50
references: 18313822
references: J Adv Nurs. 2003 Apr;42(1):47-56
references: 12641811
references: BMC Nurs. 2008 Jul 11;7:11
references: 18620561
references: Br J Nurs. 2003 Jan 9-22;12(1):43-7
references: 12574725
references: J Pain Symptom Manage. 2008 Dec;36(6):559-71
references: 18579340
references: Int J Nurs Stud. 2001 Dec;38(6):663-71
references: 11602270