Promoting patient-centred palliative care: a scoping review of the patient dignity question.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in promoting dignity in care, and specific interventions have been developed to include it at the end of life. The patient dignity question (PDQ) is a recent, novel and simple intervention that healthcare professionals can implement; however, little information is known about its impact. This scoping review aims to examine and map out the PDQ literature.

RECENT FINDINGS: Studies suggest that patients, families and professionals have a positive view of the PDQ in that it helps to get to know patients and provide them with the best care possible. The PDQ seems to promote an environment of care focused on the person and the prevalence of more human aspects in clinical encounters between professionals and patients. This is especially so in situations in which human aspects of the healthcare relationship at baseline received lower marks. Healthcare professionals thought that performing the PDQ to determine what is important to the patient is a feasible and effective exercise.

SUMMARY: The published literature suggests that PDQ is a beneficial intervention for approaching and getting to know a patient as a person. More studies are needed that measure pre-post-PDQ changes and that demonstrate their impact on patient care.