An Iranian Perspective on Patients' Rights

Abstract

The aim of this phenomenological research study carried out in Iran was to capture the meaning of patients' rights from the lived experiences of patients and their companions. To achieve this, 12 semistructured interviews were conducted during 2005 in a teaching hospital in Tehran with patients and/or their companions. In addition, extensive field notes were compiled during the interviews. The data were analyzed using Benner's thematic analysis. The themes captured were classified into three main categories, with certain themes identified within each category. The categories were: (1) the concept of patients' rights; (2) barriers to patients' rights; and (3) facilitators of patients' rights. The distinctive themes within each of the categories were identified as: (1a) receiving real care, (1b) focus on the patient, and (1c) equality and accessibility; (2a) dissatisfaction with caregivers, and (2b) specific work environment limitations; (3a) the patient's companion, (3b) a responsible system, and (3c) the public's awareness of rights. Although certain themes identified closely resemble those identified in international patients' bills of rights, the current study focused on themes that are particularly relevant to the Iranian sociocultural context.

Patients' perception of dignity in Iranian healthcare settings: a qualitative content analysis: Table 1

“…This is in line with studies that confirm a relation between communication and promotion of dignity 30 32. The importance of friendly verbal or gestural communication was stated by all participants in this study.…”

“…Moreover, in the survey of Ipsos MORI,29 hospital cleanliness was mentioned as the most important factor in patient dignity. There is a study in Iran30 that reveals that facility limitations and unsuitable hospital and ward structures are obstacles to fulfilment of patient's rights.…”

“…As stated by Joolaee et al ,30 ‘Having a companion is an embedded concept within Iran's healthcare system and is a necessity based on patients' view’. In spite of the fact that companions are providing for patients' primary needs, common complaints indicated that their own comfort in hospitals was completely ignored.…”

Psychometric evaluation of the Moral Distress Scale–Revised among Iranian Nurses

“…Items with absolute loading values of .3 or greater were regarded as appropriate. 53 Next, the results from the PCA were confirmed and validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (36).…”

Ethical Sensitivity in Nursing Ethical Leadership: A Content Analysis of Iranian Nurses Experiences

“…Iran is generally a religious country, and religious attitudes and beliefs have spread into every dimension of Iranians’ lives, including the health system and nursing profession [11, 12], such that respect for human and ethical values has a special place in Iranian culture and among nurses [13, 14]. In Iran, the subject of ethics in nursing has attracted greater attention in recent years, such that various studies have been conducted, and experts have developed guidelines, such as the Nursing Code of Ethics provided in 2011 by the Iranian Nursing Organization [15].…”