Respect for Human Dignity in Caring for Patients with Cancer in Ilam, Perspectives of Patients and Nurses

Milad Borji,Mehdi Meymizade,Seyyed Rahmatollah Mousavi Moghadam

doi:10.31557/apjcb.2016.1.2.43-46

Milad Borji, Mehdi Meymizade + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcb.2016.1.2.43-46

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Abstract

Objectives: Human dignity is one of the most important characteristics and ethical concerns in nursing care. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating respect for human dignity in care for patients with cancer from both patients’ and nurses' perspectives.Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 150 patients with cancer and 150 healthcare nurses were selected through convenience sampling. Data was collected from patients and nurses using a human dignity questionnaire about patient care; the validity and reliability of the questionnaire had been confirmed by previous studies. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20 software to carry out a statistical-descriptive test (mean and standard deviation) and statistical-inferential tests (t-test and one-way ANOVA).Results: According to the findings, for both patients and nurses, human dignity is very important in care for patients with cancer. Results also indicated that nurses consider respect for human dignity in patients with cancer to be at a desirable level, while from patients' perspective, it is low.Conclusions: Due to patients’ feeling that respect for human dignity is low in care for patients with cancer, it is necessary to implement appropriate nursing interventions to increase human dignity in care for patients with cancer.

Highlights

Human dignity is an important characteristic and among the main ethical concerns in nursing care [1]
Islam emphasizes the idea of patient dignity, and pays special attention to its different aspects such as the mutual rights of patient and physician, and patient and community [6]; human dignity is a concept that is emphasized in the Holy Quran, the various verses of which emphasize the human dignity granted to men by God, and stipulate human dignity as the vicegerent of Allah [7]
The population of this study consisted of patients with cancer admitted to hospitals in Ilam City and the nurses involved in their care

Summary

Introduction

Human dignity is an important characteristic and among the main ethical concerns in nursing care [1]. Human dignity is defined as respect for basic human rights [2]. According to the concept of human dignity, all human beings are created free and equal in terms of dignity and rights [2, 4, 5]. Attention to patient dignity has a long history in medical disciplines; it perhaps dates back to Socrates’ philosophy and his emphasis on respect for patient dignity. This concept is seen in works by Plato and Aristotle in the period before Islam. Islam emphasizes the idea of patient dignity, and pays special attention to its different aspects such as the mutual rights of patient and physician, and patient and community [6]; human dignity is a concept that is emphasized in the Holy Quran, the various verses of which emphasize the human dignity granted to men by God, and stipulate human dignity as the vicegerent of Allah [7]

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