Nurses' perception of threats to human dignity in caring for patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study

Identifying threats to patients' dignity is crucial for maintaining and promoting their dignity. Preserving patient dignity should be regarded as both a patient's right and a moral obligation. This study was conducted to evaluate nurses' understanding of threats to human dignity in the care of patients with COVID-19.

This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis in various clinical departments in Iran. Clinical nurses from different departments were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 clinical nurses over two months in 2021 and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

During data analysis, two main categories and ten subcategories were identified: 1) Unethical behaviors (lack of respect for patient privacy, lack of patient involvement in decision-making procedures, ignoring the patient as an individual, aggressive behaviors, stigmatization, and failure to provide palliative and end-of-life care to patients and their families); 2) Organizational factors (inadequate financial support, lack of patient-care facilities, strict restrictions, and employing less experienced nurses in COVID wards).

The present study showed that most participants expressed concerns about violations of patients' dignity and identified many threats to it. Based on the findings, it is suggested that other factors threatening patients' dignity be identified, the threats eliminated, and healthy treatment environments created to promote patients' dignity.