Which characteristics of nursing home residents relate to factors influencing their dignity?
Aim of this study was to explore which characteristics of nursing home residents relate to factors influencing their dignity. Questionnaires containing the Measurement Instrument for Dignity AMsterdam - for Long-Term Care facilities (MIDAM-LTC) were administered to 95 nursing home residents, residing on the general medical wards of six nursing homes in the Netherlands. Associations between residents' characteristics and each MIDAM-LTC item as well as the total number of items considerably influencing dignity were calculated. Results showed that not being optimistic, being male and/or being heavily dependent predispose nursing home residents to have their dignity undermined. Residents with these characteristics should therefore be given special attention in the provision of dignity-conserving care. Age, cultural background, religion, length of stay and socioeconomic status were very rarely related to individual MIDAM-LTC items. Knowledge of associations between characteristics and factors undermining dignity can be used to raise nursing home staff's sensitivity toward these factors.
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: eol@vumc.nl.
Mariska G
MG
Oosterveld-Vlug
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Henrica C W
HC
de Vet
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
H Roeline W
HR
Pasman
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Isis E
IE
van Gennip
Department of General Practice, Section of Medical Ethics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dick L
DL
Willems
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bregje D
BD
Onwuteaka-Philipsen
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D028723:Personhood; D010820:Physicians; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Dignity; Long-term care; MIDAM-LTC; Nursing home