Everybody matters. 1: How getting to know your patients helps to promote dignified care

The Dignity in Care Project aims to develop practical interventions to promote dignified care in hospitals, embedded in the project slogan: "Everybody matters: sustaining dignity in care." It is a nurse led research collaboration with Royal Free Hampstead and Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals Trusts and City University. Practical interventions devised by the project are presented around three main themes that emerged from the views of older people and their relatives (Bridges et al, 2010; 2009). The first theme of "maintaining identity--see who I am" focuses on knowing about people, while the second of "creating community--connect with me" recognises that in the act of caring, nurses receive as well as give. The last theme of "shared decision making--involve me" looks at how decisions about care are made. This first article in a three part series summarises the project and focuses on the first theme. It reports on practical initiatives to enhance dignity in hospitals by enabling nurses and patients/carers to know and value each other as people.