Exploring children’s dignity: A qualitative approach

Abstract

Background and Objective:Children’s rights to good health care are enshrined in various publications and policy documents. The maintenance of human dignity is recognized as a core value in foundational to human rights. Although it has been studied extensively from adult patients perspective, there are few studies of dignity in relation to school age children, generally or in relation to health care. This paper explores school age childeren,s and parents perceptions of children’s, dignity.Materials and Methods:A conventional qualitative content analysis method was used to explore the meaning of hospitalized childrens’ dignity. Hospitalized children and parents in general medical and surgical pediatric units were eligible to participate. Data were obtained through unstructured interviews. Purposive sampling was used and school age children and parent were recruited until data saturation was reached (n =20, 12 children and 8 parent).Results:Hospitalized children and parents in general medical and surgical pediatric units were eligible to participate. Data were obtained through unstructured interviews. Purposive sampling was used and school age children and parent were recruited until data saturation was reached (n =20, 12 children and 8 parent). Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Participants were provided with information about the purpose, reasons for recording interviews, voluntary participation, and confidentiality of data and interviewees. Dignity was reflected in three themes (1) Respect for the child (2) protection of personal privacy (3) family center communication.Conclusion:Hospitalized childrens and parents stated that healthcare services should Respect for the child and protect their personal privacy. Also, they should communicating with the child and their parents to provide dignity. School age is a discrete developmental stage, with specific healthcare needs which must be addressed effectively by healthcare providers.