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A new measure of home care patients' dignity at the end of life: The Palliative Patients' Dignity Scale (PPDS)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2015

David Rudilla*
Affiliation:
Home Care Unit of the Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Amparo Oliver
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Laura Galiana
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Pilar Barreto
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: David Rudilla, Home Care Unit of the Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Avda Tres Cruces, 2–46014 – Valencia, Spain. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to develop a new and brief instrument to be employed in dignity measurement, one based on the perceptions of patients, relatives, and professionals about dignity.

Method:

Surveys of patients receiving palliative care, family caregivers, and palliative care professionals were first carried out (sample 1). In the second step, palliative care patients were surveyed with a pilot questionnaire (sample 2). Finally, a survey design was used to assess patients admitted into a home care unit (sample 3). Sample 1 included 78 subjects, including patients, family caregivers, and professionals. Some 20 additional palliative patients participated in sample 2. Finally, 70 more patients admitted to a home care unit participated were surveyed (sample 3). Together with the Palliative Patients' Dignity Scale (PPDS), our survey included other measures of dignity, anxiety, depression, resilient coping, quality of life, spirituality, and social support.

Results:

After analyzing data from steps 1 and 2, an eight-item questionnaire was presented for validation. The new scale showed appropriate factorial validity (χ2(19) = 21.43, p = 0.31, CFI = 0.99, GFI = 0.92, SRMR = 0.07, and RMSEA = 0.04), reliability (internal consistency estimations of 0.75 and higher), criterial validity (significant correlations with the hypothesized related variables), and a cutoff criteria of 50 on the overall scale.

Significance of Results:

The new PPDS has appropriate psychometric properties that, together with its briefness, encourages its applicability for dignity assessment at the end of life.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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