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Factors affecting dignity of patients with multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Sharifi Simin,
Borhani Fariba,
Abbaszadeh Abbas
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12299
Subject(s) - dignity , nonprobability sampling , qualitative research , psychology , medicine , social psychology , nursing , environmental health , sociology , population , social science , political science , law
Rationale MS is one of the most common chronic diseases of the nervous system. Apart from disease progression, other complications such as unemployment, separation and divorce could potentially threat patients’ dignity. Most of the previous studies have been done of maintaining patients’ dignity in interaction with healthcare team, but studies on affecting factors of dignity in chronic patients in the society and in interaction with usual people are scarce. Aim We aimed to investigate factors affecting dignity of Iranian patients with MS in daily living and in interaction of them with the society. Methods In this qualitative study, 13 patients with multiple sclerosis were chosen by purposive sampling and semi‐structured interviews were conducted until data saturation. The study was done in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Results Factors affecting dignity were classified as ‘personal factors’ and ‘social factors’. Personal factors consist of the following subcategories: patients’ communication with self, patients’ knowledge, patients’ values and beliefs and patients’ resources. Social factors include others’ communication with patients, social knowledge, social values and beliefs and social resources. Conclusion Multiple personal and social factors interfere in perceived patient dignity. In fact, interaction between personal and social factors can be influential in final perceived dignity. By focusing on whole aspects of the patients’ lives, we can identify dignity‐promoting or dignity‐threatening factors and help patients maintain their dignity by taking appropriate measures for moderating threatening factors and improving dignity enhancing ones.