Asian Nurs Res.
2023 Feb;17(1):8-14. 10.1016/j.anr.2022.12.001.
Dignity and Related Factors in Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
- Affiliations
-
- 1College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
- 2Department of Nursing, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Taiwan
- 3Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Taiwan
- 4Nursing Department, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Taiwan
- 5Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
- KMID: 2542725
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2022.12.001
Abstract
- Purpose
Dignity is a basic human right that is related to psychological distress factors in patients with cancer such as depression and demoralization. Hence, the dignity issue is of great importance to healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to advise healthcare professionals regarding the related distress factors of dignity in patients with cancer by investigating its relationship with patients’ demographics, disease characteristics, and psychological distress.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study design. A convenience sample of 267 patients with cancer from a medical center was recruited into this study. Each patient completed demographics and disease characteristics questionnaires, the Patient Dignity Inventory Mandarin Version, the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software.
Results
Dignity was significantly correlated with age, demoralization, and depression. Cancer patients aged 65 or above were more likely to have a lower sense of dignity. In the present study, the sensitivity and specificity of the Patient Dignity Inventory Mandarin Version for demoralization (DS-MV≥30) were 84.8% and 79.1% and for depression (PHQ-9≥10) were 73.8% and 70.9% in patients with cancer with an aggregate score of 35 or above.
Conclusions
Dignity is significantly correlated with personal demographic characteristics and psychological distress in patients with cancer. The results provide reference data for healthcare professionals to understand and enable dignity in patients with cancer and aid in the development of methods that promote their dignity.
