The Dignity of Burn Patients: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Nurses and Caregivers

Abstract

Background: The essence of nursing care is preservation of patients' human dignity. The aggressive nature of severe burn injuries makes it hard to respect burn patient's existential dimensions and dignity. However, not much research has been conducted on respect for the dignity of burn patients.Purpose: The present study aims to outline the concept of maintaining the dignity of burn patients from the perspective of their caregivers. Methods: The study has a descriptive, qualitative research design. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth, individual interviews. Data analysis was executed using conventional content analysis. The subjects were nurses and family caregivers from the biggest burns hospital in the south-east of Iran. The participants were selected via purposeful sampling (n=20) until data saturation was reached. The study lasted from October 2017 to August 2018. Results: Three main themes emerged from the information obtained from the interviews: creating a friendly atmosphere, showing respect, and providing comprehensive support.Conclusion: Burn patients need to receive care in a friendly atmosphere where they are looked after by empathetic caregivers who give enough time to them and allow them to express their feelings and concerns. Also, patients' human values and beliefs should be respected and all aspects of their existence should be taken into account for their dignity to be preserved. Workshops designed based on the findings of the present study can help improve the quality of nursing care.