Education to promote dignity in healthcare

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the approaches to education that can be employed to promote dignity in care and is aimed at both students and educators in healthcare. The educational theories of deep learning, andragogy, constructivism and transformative learning, and their relevance for dignity education, are discussed. In the education of healthcare professionals, the philosophy of andragogy needs to run alongside the principle of deep learning. As previously discussed, strategies should adhere to the principles of deep learning, andragogy and constructive learning and some will aim to develop transformative learning. An environmental culture that promotes learning is pivotal to promoting dignity and it is the role of the teaching institution and individual teacher to promote a positive learning environment that enables deep learning to take place. The public’s desire for healthcare that promotes the dignity of clients has become an overt demand – it vital that healthcare professionals are formally educated about what dignity means and how it can be promoted.