IntroductionPatients who suffer from substance use disorder (SUD) might receive services from different service providers in an opioid maintenance treatment programme (OMT) and have a widespread and complex need for nursing.BackgroundLiterature reveals that prejudices against people with SUD exist. There is a lack of studies exploring patients with SUD experiences of preserving their dignity in the encounter with healthcare staff. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the meaning of dignity for patients with SUD.MethodsThe research design was descriptive and interpretative. In the interpretation of qualitative in‐depth interviews with six patients, a hermeneutical approach based on Gadamer (Truth and method, Sheed & Ward, London, UK, 1989) was used.ResultsAnalysis resulted in three mains themes about the meaning of dignity: (a) The material dimension. (b) To be respected by others. (c) The inner experience. Factors enhancing dignity in the encounters were as follows: (a) Being respected and acknowledged. (b) Being cared for. (c) Knowledge and persistent relation. Factors depriving dignity were as follows: (a) Stigma and prejudice. (b) Insufficient relations and lack of confirmation. (c) Experiencing disrespectful/patronising attitudes and lack of knowledge.ConclusionsThe material dimension of dignity containing an aesthetically aspect was important for these patients. Dignity was also experienced as strongly connected to respect. Dignity can be enhanced by treating patients with SUD with understanding and respect, and dignity can be inhibited through stigmatization of patients with SUD, as well as by caregivers’ lack of knowledge.Relevance to clinical practiceThe study clarifies a need for more knowledge about SUD among healthcare staff, as well as promotes ethical awareness in encounters with patients regardless of their background.

The metaphor "Captain of the ship" was experienced as strengthening the messages from the solution-focused approach.

Objective: To examine the relationship between emotional well-being, patient activation and social support in a cohort of adults with severe obesity who underwent gastric bypass surgery from January to December 2012. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Subjects: Of a total population of 129 people, aged 18-68 years, at a local hospital in central Norway, 64 (50%) responding to the questionnaire, 52 (81%) being women. Main Outcome Measures: The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), a 16-item instrument on the frequency and content of social support, and demographic and clinical data. Results: A significant positive association was found between higher level of patient activation and better emotional well-being (P = 0.02) in linear regression analysis. A higher level of family support was significantly associated with better emotional well-being (practical social support from the family (P = 0.04), emotional social support from family (P = 0.01) and from friends (P = 0.005)). Conclusion: Screening tools for emotional well-being should be used systematically in postoperative consultations to recognize those who need a more individually tailored post-surgery follow-up care after gastric bypass surgery. In addition, health care providers in both specialist and primary health care settings should consider assessing the level of social support as part of regular follow-up routines.

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