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Journal article

‘It's the little things that count’: healthcare professionals’ views on delivering dignified care: a qualitative study

Abstract:

Aims

To explore healthcare professionals’ perspectives of dignified care and experiences of providing care.

Background

Although ‘care’ and dignity in care are seen as central to the delivery of good care by patients, families and professionals, we still lack a clear understanding of what these, often contested and elusive concepts, mean in the practice setting, particularly from the perspective of healthcare professionals.

Design

Interview based qualitative research design.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals working in four UK NHS trusts. Data were collected between June–November 2012. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Forty-eight healthcare professionals took part in this interview based study. Two main themes that encapsulated how care and dignity in care is enacted by professionals were identified: focusing on the ‘little’ things that matter to both professionals and patients; and improving care by making poor care ‘visible’.

Conclusion

Our findings show that the ‘little things’ in care allow professionals to ‘care for’ but also ‘care about’ patients, suggesting that these two aspects of caring become intrinsically interlinked. Our findings also suggest that ‘making poor care visible’ challenges engrained and task rather than human focused care in a non-threatening way, which can be the catalyst for providing care that is caring and dignified.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1111/jan.12878

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Primary Care Health Sciences
Role:
Author


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/05ayqqv15
Grant:
R93/1108


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
Journal of Advanced Nursing More from this journal
Volume:
72
Issue:
4
Pages:
782–790
Publication date:
2016-01-05
Acceptance date:
2015-11-03
DOI:
EISSN:
1365-2648
ISSN:
0309-2402
Pmid:
26931275


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:590489
UUID:
uuid:e5f15fc5-f218-4734-830f-32fc81b20c18
Local pid:
pubs:590489
Deposit date:
2016-11-01

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