Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/193260

Title

Learning from dying patients during their final days: life reflections gleaned from dignity therapy

Author(s)

Hack, Thomas F.;  McClement, Susan E.;  Chochinov, Harvey M.;  Cann, Beverley J.;  Hassard, Thomas H.;  Kristjanson, Linda J.;  Harlos, Mike

Abstract

Dignity therapy is a novel therapeutic approach designed to decrease suffering, enhance quality of life and bolster a sense of dignity for patients approaching death. The benefits of dignity therapy were previously documented in a sample of 100 terminally ill patients. One of the products of dignity therapy is a transcript of the edited therapy session(s). In this qualitative study, 50 of the 100 (17 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and 33 from Perth, Australia) dignity therapy transcripts were randomly drawn, and independently coded and analysed by three investigators using a grounded theory approach. The transcripts revealed that dignity therapy serves to provide a safe, therapeutic environment for patients to review the most meaningful aspects of their lives in such a manner that their core values become apparent. The most common values expressed by the patients included 'Family', 'Pleasure', 'Caring', 'A Sense of Accomplishment', 'True Friendship', and 'Rich Experience'. Exemplars of each of these values illustrate the pervasive, defining role of values in our lives. The findings are discussed in terms of values theory, the role of dignity therapy, and consideration of values clarification in clinicians' efforts to enhance the dignity of terminally ill patients.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Palliative Medicine, Vol. 24, no. 7 (Oct 2010), pp. 715-723

Publication year

2010

FOR Code(s)

1117 Public Health and Health Services

Keyword(s)

Attitude to death;  Australia;  Canada;  Care and caring;  Dignity;  Friendship;  Human dignity;  Learning;  Neoplasms;  Palliative care;  Personal experiences;  Personal values;  Personhood;  Qualitative;  Quality of life;  Terminal care;  Terminal illness;  Therapy

Publisher

Sage

ISSN

0269-2163

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269216310373164

Copyright

Copyright © 2010 The Author(s).

Peer reviewed