Knowing about you: eliciting dimensions of personhood within tuberculosis care

• DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.16.0630
• Publication Date: 2017-01-18T09:52:55Z
• Authors: C. Lopez; A. Bertram-Farough; D. Heywood; L. Dawson; M. Dillon; H. M. Chochinov; P. Plourde
• Keywords: Dignity; Personhood; Social Connectedness

Knowing someone with tuberculosis (TB) as a person, rather than defining them by their illness, is part of recognising dignity and unique individuality, requirement for effective care.An adaptation the Patient Dignity Question (PDQ) was formalised persons receiving treatment active TB or latent tuberculous infection (LTBI), its impact evaluated both person health care providers (HCPs).Individuals LTBI in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, were asked PDQ routine care. Patients HCPs subsequently invited to evaluate application PDQ.Of 58 participants who responded PDQ, 97% felt that it important ask about an individual, should be all patients, while 55% thought made difference Thirty-eight per cent said they learned something new patient, 31% influenced sense connectedness empathy well personal satisfaction providing care.Formalising question person-centred provides mechanism create respectful environment caring most marginalised carry burden TB.