title: [The person inside the patient: a qualitative research on the dignity of people assisted in hospital].
abstract: the dignity of the patient and the respect shown toward him are essential aspects of the nursing profession. Developing a qualified competence is possible only if healthcare professionals feel thoughtfully involved in their role. The purpose of this study is to understand, through actual patients' experiences of hospitalization, which are the key factors affecting patients dignity in order to recognize how to provide sensitive care.
  
  
  
  The survey was conducted in Valcamonica's hospital, on a sample of 20 patients hospitalized here in August 2015, all corresponding to predefined inclusion criteria. The survey was carried out through semi-structured interviews including key questions, fundamental to survey purposes.
  
  
  
  dignity is regarded by everyone as an intrinsic value of every human being. Main survey's result is that the majority of interviewees feel their dignity maintained during hospitalization. Factors that may affect patients dignity can be summarized in three main categories: factors related to healthcare professionals behavior, hospital environment and patients personal condition.
  
  
  
  dignity is today an undefined and ambiguous concept; nevertheless it is something that every human being is aware of and the importance to safeguard it is recognized by all of us. However, hospital itself and the conditions of weakness and dependence that often come along with the disease, can easily harm patient's dignity. Polite and accommodating behavior of healthcare providers is the best way to respect patients' dignity. In conclusion, the clinical approach which takes into account only the disease and not the individuality of the person is inadmissible for every category of patient.
authors.affiliation: Infermiera presso Istituto Clinico San Rocco. Email: giorgisara93@libero.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: 2 Infermiera Tutor presso l'ASST- Valcamonica, Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, sede di Esine.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonfadini
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata Infermieria Tutor presso ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica, Università degli Studi di Brescia.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015399:Nursing Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D028723:Personhood; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires