Topic > Respecting the dignity of the patient in the provision of quality palliative care

Index IntroductionTopic analysisConclusionIntroductionPalliative care is a term that is not unheard of. Bringing visibility to these two words are mainstream media such as television, or more conventional media in the form of written language in books and newspapers. Palliative care refers to helping people with chronic illnesses – usually near the end of their lives – live their final days with dignity and improve their quality of life. It is when a group of people within the professional field work together to provide a comfortable space for patients to relax and to allow them to cope with their conditions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Essentially, respecting their dignity as part of the care process is something that must be observed and maintained. This article will explore the methods by which dignity, both on the part of the patient and that of their carers, is maintained throughout the process of providing patient care. It will review the various existing studies linking dignity and what it means for patients, healthcare workers, relatives and for patients requiring palliative care. The next sections will provide a brief overview of the topic and existing research, followed by the relevance of the topic in Singapore, how it impacts the quality of palliative care offered, and finally, solutions for any challenges faced. Analysis of the topic The sense of person dignity is something that we all have in every moment of our lives. During the transition to adolescence, dignity is mainly supported by our parents since they are responsible for us and we depend on them. However, once we get older, our dignity becomes something we can control ourselves, until we become older and more senile. When approaching the end-of-life age, there are other setbacks such as serious illnesses that can compromise a person's dignity and essentially cause pain, despair and frustration to the patient and their family. Palliative care aims to help both parties get through this period and end their lives in the best way possible. Respecting their dignity involves making an effort to satisfy patients' needs and desires. Dignity is the ongoing need that is vital to each person's well-being and sense of worth and respect. As people lose control over their dignity, it is imperative that hospices know how to care for a patient without making them feel as if their dignity has been lost. There are some key aspects of palliative care and respect for dignity that need to be considered. For example, respect. This also includes mutual respect between people and respect for privacy. What matters in this context is how healthcare workers treat patients. Then, autonomy. This refers to the power to choose what the patient wants. Ergo, being able to be independent is something that is a struggle for many people that age. Additionally, empowerment, which includes traits such as self-esteem, self-pride, and modesty. The patient must be able to feel dignified and remain firm and strong despite his condition. Last but not least, communication, where they are able to understand information, both verbally and non-verbally, is something they struggle with. They feel the need to be understood, and rightly so. Dignity is important in the context of palliative care as it is a form of respect towards patients and givestheir say in decision making even as they near the end of life. The question of how their dignity is preserved can be answered in different ways, mentioning: physical needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, social needs and family needs. Each of these can be monitored by families and other healthcare professionals who can help them maintain their dignity at the end of life. Emotional needs: preserving one's dignity, it is important to communicate with patients, listen to them and sympathize with their feelings. It is also important to involve them in important decision making so that they have a say in choosing and receiving the care they want and need. Physical needs: This involves controlling and regulating patients' pain and other symptoms such as nausea and shortness of breath. of breath. The hospice worker must ensure that the patient is in the right environment to receive dignified care. Spiritual needs: For many people nearing the end of life, spirituality is important, whether they are religious or not. This is characterized by a desire to spend time with you to understand one's life, identity and calling. Social needs: This can promote dignity and can be done simply through activities such as allowing a patient to control their finances and carry out activities that make it possible to feel happy. Family needs: Health workers are often trained to take family needs into consideration as well. This will help preserve the family's dignity during illness and after death by providing social and emotional support. Over the years, younger generations have relied on palliative care to care for their parents in hospices and old nursing homes on their own. . In Singapore, even when an individual undergoes palliative care, dignity is widely considered to be a crucial aspect. A study was conducted in Singapore to explore how dignity is demonstrated in palliative care. Through qualitative interviews with advanced cancer patients, it was established that their experience of dignity depended on three factors: social, organizational, spiritual. The study established that, in addition to support from friends and family, they also needed a good healthcare system, social security organization and private sector support, as well as the ability to observe existing cultural and religious belief systems. All of the above is what helps support the patient's sense of dignity throughout their hospice stay. There are many influencing factors that determine the importance of dignity when providing palliative care. Two key factors that can influence how dignity is preserved at the end of life include promoting self-respect and, consequently, treating the patient with respect. Both of these aspects can be translated into the palliative care process. In most cases, the goal of palliative care is life prolongation and symptom control rather than healthy, holistic care. Therefore, it would be helpful for the hospice or caregiver to consider the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs throughout the palliative care process. A study was conducted on 20 patients admitted to coronary care units and of these, 5 were selected for purposive sampling to participate in semi-structured in-depth interviews. They used qualitative methods of data analysis and determined that in most cases the degree of care derives from the human environment and the physical environment. Therefore, the holistic healing process mustinclude the ability to meet patients' needs, both in hospital and after discharge. These were the key themes that emerged in the study, along with the need for patients to have a sense of safety and a good and effective relationship between patient and nurse. Locally, programs are already in place to assist patients and their loved ones receiving palliative care. One program implemented is the Temasek Cares-Program Dignity, a pilot home-based palliative care program for patients with advanced dementia. Helped family members anticipate changes in care and provide solutions on how to alleviate the patient's significant distress. For example, using therapeutic touch to calm the patient when he is agitated. Furthermore, placing things around you that the patient likes can help reassure them and reduce distress. This allowed healthcare workers to better manage patients. In a global context, a study conducted by Rome et. al. whose primary goal was to alleviate the suffering of patients and their families through comprehensive assessment and treatment of the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual symptoms experienced by patients. These are some factors that we tend to overlook when caring for patients near the end of life; so something Singapore can take into consideration when implementing palliative care. The main challenges faced in the provision of palliative care include the development of a specific national policy or regulatory framework, including resource allocation, culture building, collaborative policy making and interdisciplinary teamwork . . Having a national policy, it reaches out to a large number of needy people. For example, in Singapore, government subsidy is available through means testing. The level of the subsidy is mainly determined by the monthly per capita income of the household. Furthermore, Medisave can also be used for palliative care services. With the help of politics, it has made healthcare costs much more affordable. Another challenge is the necessary training for workers and also public education. In Singapore, people have only recently begun to understand how to deal with people nearing the end of life. There needs to be professionals who understand what palliative care is and, more importantly, who have the necessary training to carry it out. This is also an obligation for politicians, healthcare professionals and the family as a whole. Those involved need to be informed about how they can influence the palliative care system in Singapore using existing systems or otherwise. Another challenge that exists when ensuring that patients' dignity is respected is the factor of pain control. For diseases such as cancer, which can become extremely painful and unpleasant for patients, it is significant that it is also identified as a primary symptom. Managing and maintaining dignity, therefore, would be through the provision of pain relief that is available to all people. With specific reference to Singapore, many reports indicate that officials in the country have taken steps to ensure that palliative care is more available to people. Their new policy ensures that patients do not have to opt for the most expensive options and that they can afford palliative care at any price. The country has decided to provide continuous residential services in the Health Services Law which would be able to more clearly regulate the continuity of care for patients and generally address the broader issue of the quality of palliative care care. Some key solutions for.