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Dignity in cancer patients with a life expectancy of a few weeks. Implementation of the factor structure of the Patient Dignity Inventory and dignity assessment for a patient-centered clinical intervention: A cross-sectional study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2018

Andrea Bovero Open the ORCID record for Andrea Bovero [Opens in a new window] ,
Nader Alessandro Sedghi ,
Rossana Botto ,
Chiara Tosi ,
Valentina Ieraci  and
Riccardo Torta
Andrea Bovero*
Affiliation:
Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital, Turin, Italy
Nader Alessandro Sedghi
Affiliation:
Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital, Turin, Italy
Rossana Botto
Affiliation:
Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital, Turin, Italy
Chiara Tosi
Affiliation:
Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital, Turin, Italy
Valentina Ieraci
Affiliation:
Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital, Turin, Italy
Riccardo Torta
Affiliation:
Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital, Turin, Italy
*
Author for Correspondence: Andrea Bovero, Psycho-Oncology Unit, A.O.U. “Città della Salute e della Scienza,” Corso Bramante n. 88, 10126, Torino, Italy. E-mail: abovero@cittadellasalute.to.it
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Abstract

Objective

Hospice is a favored setting for dignity care. Studies on dignity dimension in end-of-life patients are growing. The Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) is a tool that can lead to interesting information on dignity-related aspects of suffering. The study aimed to investigate dignity among end-of-life cancer patients, by examining the Italian version of the PDI factor structure and assessing the relationship between dignity and other patients’ psychosocial and spiritual variables to improve a patient-centered clinical practice.

Method

This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a battery of self-administered validated rating scales. The sample included 127 hospice patients with a life expectancy of a few weeks and a Karnofsky Performance Status ≤40. Factor structure and concurrent validity of PDI and correlations between dignity and anxious and depressive symptomatology, quality of life, demoralization, personal coping styles, spiritual well-being, and spiritual daily experience were analyzed.

Result

Factor analysis highlighted a five-factor solution, accounting for 60% of the overall variance. The factors were labeled Psychological Distress, Social Support, Physical Symptoms and Dependency, Existential Distress, and Loss of Purpose/Meaning. Dignity assessment evidenced that self-blame coping style, emotional and physical well-being, and depression were the loss of dignity significant predictors (R2 = 0.605; p < 0.01).

Significance of results

The results point out the intercultural validity of the PDI and empower an accurate detection of dignity-related distress sources in the daily clinical practice. Personality traits seem to have an active role in the loss of dignity, whereas spirituality is confirmed to be positively involved in dignity enhancement.

Keywords

Dignityhospicesend-of-life patientscancerpalliative care
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 16 , Issue 6 , December 2018 , pp. 648 - 655
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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