{
  "abstract": "Background Person-centered, dignity conserving care in palliative care has been high profile in recent healthcare policies. The Patient Dignity Question – ‘What do I need to know about you as a person to give you the best care possible’? – derived from H.M. Chochinov’s work on dignity encapsulates this approach by getting to know the patient as an individual and assessing patient priorities and stressors. Asking this question was found to make improvements to patients’ experience and levels of empathy perceived by patients, and also supported disclosure of information previously unknown to healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals also reported that using the Patient Dignity Question enhanced their attitude, care, respect, empathy and satisfaction in caring for the patient.Aim To educate and support clinical staff in the community hospice care setting to competently and confidently use the Patient Dignity Question in their initial assessments in order to view patients as unique individuals, enabling improvements in their care.Methods Following a literature review, teaching sessions were held to inform clinical staff, including doctors, about the background of the Patient Dignity Question and how to implement it into practice through their initial assessments. Each member of the team was supported in this change in practice, including an in-depth review of the assessment. The outcome and insights of the Patient Dignity Question is discussed regularly by the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and remains a focus for the patient across their hospice pathway.Results Clinical staff reported surprise at the breadth of what was discussed when asking the Patient Dignity Question. Patients reported feeling valued and listened to, some reported telling their story for the first time.Conclusion Using the Patient Dignity Question enhanced the quality of patient care and experience as well as improving the clinician’s empathy, understanding and satisfaction in caring for the patient.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nicola Hughes"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Samantha Stannard"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sonia Haywood"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-23 Introducing the patient dignity question into initial specialist community palliative care assessments",
  "uid": "f5e5080e-c7bb-53ff-8f31-4a744da3daed"
}