Patients’ experience of privacy and dignity. Part 2: an empirical study

Abstract

In May-June 2006, a self-report questionnaire was completed by 40 inpatients to assess their experience of privacy and dignity in hospital. The questionnaire comprised closed and open questions, where the latter, among other things, required the patient's own narrative. Results indicate that patients view privacy/dignity as crucial. Although the staff and inadequate ward layouts compromise and conspire against patients' privacy and dignity, patients appear to sympathize with how hospitals are run, even if the caring environment fails to provide full privacy. Women have greater concerns, and both genders indicated how their privacy and dignity could be met. Recognizing problems relating to meeting patients' privacy and dignity, the article challenges clinical staff and hospital designers to address the issue, especially as central government initiatives and law demand serious attention to ensuring patients' privacy and dignity. Research is indicated to ascertain hospital designs, preferred care strategies and education to address the problem.

An evaluation of patient attitudes to colonoscopy and the importance of endoscopist interaction and the endoscopy environment to satisfaction and value

“…Following the Department of Health's pledge to abolish mixed-sex wards [28], endoscopy departments are required to provide a single-sex environment within waiting rooms and recovery areas. However, the published evidence of patients' attitudes to hospital single-sex accommodation is conflicting and limited to in-patient admissions [29][30][31][32], with insufficient evidence to indicate that it is a priority for patients. In the current study, approximately a third of patients responded that a single-sex environment was important when gowned, less than 20% felt that this was important throughout their visit, with the proportion that would be willing to delay their appointment for a single-sex environment at less than 15%.…”

Nurses' commitment to respecting patient dignity

“…[29] Comparable results were also reported by Whitehead and Wheeler. [30] Baillie reported frequent patient complaints regarding the violation of privacy, e.g., entering the room without permission and not respecting patients’ information privacy. [10] According to Lin and Tsai, privacy protection was commonly ignored during clinical practices.…”

“…As asserted by Whitehead and Wheeler[30] and Bagheri et al .,[43] constant presence of other patients in shared rooms cause various problems (e.g., not being able to have a private phone call and issues such as exposing body parts during diagnosis and treatment) can negatively affect patient dignity. On the contrary, Baillie believed that having a roommate helps patients communicate with and be supported by other individuals with similar conditions.…”

Understanding Dignity: Experiences of Impairment in an Exercise Facility

“…Dignified contexts external to those were when people were welcoming, honest, respectful, noncritical, and nonjudgmental (Sulmasy, 2010). Contexts with these attributes promoted dignity, as people have the freedom to make choices, feel involved in decision making, and exercise personal responsibility for what is of value to them, such as their physical wellness (Fenton & Mitchell, 2002;Shannon, 2007;Whitehead & Wheeler, 2008).…”

“…The experience of the dignified self is reflective of social and environmental contexts that are psychologically and physically nonthreatening (Matiti & Baillie, 2011), maintain individuality (Gallagher, 2004;Whitehead & Wheeler, 2008), support individual rights (Toombs, 2004), increase self-esteem and self-worth (Shannon, 2007), prevent suffering and psychological and physical pain (Haddock, 1996), and promote autonomy, control, and decision making (Shannon, 2007). Fenton and Mitchell (2002) summarize the dignified self as A state of physical, emotional and spiritual comfort, with each individual valued for his or her uniqueness and his or her individuality.…”