Manifestation of respect in the care of older patients in long-term care settings
Sammanfattning
Background: Respect is fundamental to ethical nursing
practice. However, respect in the care of older people is
seldom investigated from the perspective of patients and
their next of kin.
Aim: To describe the manifestation of respect in the care
of older patients in long-term care settings from the perspective
of older patients with memory disorders and
their next of kin.
Design and methods: A narrative inquiry on research
methodology using open interviews was employed. Transcribed
interviews were analysed using inductive content
analysis, and from this analysis a typology was produced.
Settings: The study settings were patients’ own homes
supported by professional home care, and nursing homes
in three cities in southern Finland.
Participants: A purposeful sample (N = 40) of participants
(older patient, n = 20 and their next of kin, n = 20) was
recruited. Half of the older patient lived at home where
they received professional care and the other half lived
in nursing homes.
Results: Respect in long-term care settings is manifested
in patient care through the being and doing of the nurse.
A typology of nurses’ being and doing described three
ways nurses manifested respect: ‘I’m here for you’, ‘I’m
here for work’ and ‘I’m not here for you’. Patient’s
responses to the typology were as follows: sharing,
exploring and withdrawing, respectively.
Conclusions: The analysis and typology of nurses’ being and
doing increases the understanding of respect in patient
care in long-term care settings. Furthermore, this knowledge
of respect will make it possible to develop measureable
respect indices for use in the evaluation of care. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.