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Characterization, conservation and loss of dignity at the end‐of‐ life in the emergency department. A qualitative protocol
Author(s) -
FernándezSola Cayetano,
GraneroMolina José,
DíazCortés María del Mar,
JiménezLópez Francisca Rosa,
RomanLópez Pablo,
SaezMolina Encarnación,
ArandaTorres Cayetano José,
MuñozTerrón José María,
GarcíaCaro María Paz,
HernándezPadilla José Manuel
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/jan.13536
Subject(s) - dignity , emergency department , palliative care , end of life care , autonomy , nursing , psychological intervention , qualitative research , medicine , promotion (chess) , focus group , participant observation , psychology , sociology , political science , social science , politics , anthropology , law
Aims To explore and understand the experiences of terminally ill patients and their relatives regarding dignity during end‐of‐life care in the emergency department. Background The respect given to the concept of dignity is significantly modifying the clinical relationship and the care framework involving the end‐of‐life patient in palliative care units, critical care units, hospices and their own homes. This situation is applicable to in‐hospital emergency departments, where there is a lack of research which takes the experiences of end‐of‐life patients and their relatives into account. Design A phenomenological qualitative study. Methods The protocol was approved in December 2016 and will be carried out from December 2016–December 2020. The Gadamer's philosophical underpinnings will be used in the design and development of the study. The data collection will include participant observation techniques in the emergency department, in‐depth interviews with terminally ill patients and focus groups with their relatives. For the data analysis, the field notes and verbatim transcriptions will be read and codified using ATLAS.ti software to search for emerging themes. Discussion Emerging themes that contribute to comprehending the phenomenon of dignity in end‐of‐life care in the emergency department are expected to be found. This study's results could have important implications in the implementation of new interventions in emergency departments. These interventions would be focused on improving: the social acceptance of death, environmental conditions, promotion of autonomy and accompaniment and assumption (takeover) of dignified actions and attitudes (respect for human rights).