Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
A Living Ethics Project to Address Psychological Distress in Chronic Illness: Process and Outcomes
Bénédicte D'Anjou1, Katherine Desjardins2, Julie Ianniruberto2
1Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Patients with chronic diseases often experience psychological distress, and healthcare providers (HCPs) need better tools to address it. A living ethics project co-developed interventions, improving patient care and mental health support.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Patient-Centered Care
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Individuals with complex or rare chronic diseases face significant psychological distress.
- Healthcare providers (HCPs) are often ill-equipped to address the emotional and social dimensions of patient illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address neglected psychological distress in patients with chronic diseases.
- To co-develop and evaluate interventions for improving mental health support within healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- A living ethics project structured as a five-phase living lab.
- Utilized semi-structured interviews and group interviews for problem identification, ideation, and evaluation.
- Employed a participatory methodology engaging stakeholders directly in the research process.
Main Results:
- Identified psychological distress as a key ethical issue.
- Co-developed an electronic appointment preparation form, a mental health resource directory for staff, and awareness posters.
- All interventions were positively evaluated, alongside the participatory research approach.
Conclusions:
- Directly engaging stakeholders in ethics research yields tangible, positive outcomes.
- Addressing significant moral issues collaboratively can lead to unexpected clinical benefits.
- Effective interventions can be developed even with limited resources and timeframes.
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Dilemmas II
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Psychodynamic Therapy
Classification of Illness
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe...
