Dignity in Medicine: Definition, Assessment and Therapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Palliative Care
• Patient-Centered Medicine

Background:

• Dignity and dignity-conserving care have gained prominence in medicine over the past two decades.
• Investigation spans palliative care, oncology, neurology, geriatrics, and psychiatry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and examine the definition and conceptualization of dignity in medicine.
• To identify challenges to dignity and explore potential interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted.
• Multiple databases were utilized to identify relevant studies on dignity in medicine.

Main Results:

• Dignity is a multifactorial construct requiring regular assessment in clinical practice.
• Dignity-preserving care should be central to health organizations.
• Interventions like dignity therapy (DT), life review, and reminiscence therapy support extrinsic and intrinsic dignity.

Conclusions:

• A holistic, patient-centered approach is essential across diverse medical contexts.
• Systematic efforts and interventions are needed to address pervasive challenges to dignity.
• Future research should focus on the multifaceted nature of dignity to foster compassionate healthcare environments.