Depersonalisation And Dignity Flashcards
Conformity
Occur when an individual complies with another as a result of the setting of an example
Conformity: invisibility of patients
Compliance and concordance - professional power
Tensions between professional and lay perspectives
Professional identity and challenges or professional knowledge and authority
Why do people conform?
Identity - wish to feel part of the group
Gain social approval and acceptance
Avoid being criticised
Avoid risk
Avoid being ignored
Behave in a way that is perceived to be right
Avoid feeling inferior to others
Seek comparison
Cognitive dissonance
Psychological discomfort
Aroused when people are confronted with conflicting ideas, beliefs or values
Motivational drive to reduce it - adapt
Socialisation and acculturation
Stresses
Workload - too much, not enough people
Leadership/management
Professional conflict
Emotional cost of caring
Shift works
Colleagues - peers, mentors, supervisors
Discrimination
Dealing with death and dying
Patient and family distress
Uncertainty
Multiple events at once
Causes of stress
Difficulties managing the workload
Conflicts between staff
Inadequate preparation of current role
Conflict between home and work
Dealing with patients and relatives
Burnout
Comprises emotional, mental, physical exhaustion
Caused by excessive and prolonged stress
More likely in service/caring professions - high stress, involvement and level of individual effort may not get results
Burnout is characterised by
Exhaustion
Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
Feeling ‘drained’
Frustration, negative emotions and cynical behaviour
Results in a lack of empathy for patients
Thoughts of leaving the job
Concentration problems and poor performance
Dignified care
Increasingly emphasis in government policies
Embedded in health and social care codes of practice
Positive effects on treatment and social outcomes
Dignity in practice barriers and facilitators: organisational level
Time
Staffing levels
Skills mix
Staff training and experience
Organisational support/values
Resources
Specific dignity measures
Dignity in practice barriers and facilitators: ward level
Ward environment and support
Colleagues/team
Staff attitudes
Workload
Communication
Dignity in practice barriers and facilitators: individual level
Addressing patients needs
Involving family/carers
Reflection
Dealing with an emergency
Religion
Neglect
Dignity in practice barriers and facilitators: societal
Value of caring
Valuing and prioritising older people
Failures of education
National service framework: entering old age (retirement age)
Completed careers in paid employment/child rearing
Seen as active
Independent
National service framework: transitional phase (70s and 80s)
Transition between healthy active life and frailty
Health and social care policy needs - identify emerging problems, prevent crisis, reduce long-term dependency
National service framework: frail older people (over 90)
Vulnerable group - i.e. stroke, dementia, frailty, social care needs
Services need to designed to meet factors
Need to recognise complex interaction of physical, mental and social care factors
Dignity: core elements
Respect for personhood and the individual
Communication and form of address
Privacy
Toileting
Nutrition and feeding
Cleanliness of environment
Staff attitudes
Depersonalisation
Treating the person as if they were either not present or not a person (Rana and Upton, 2009)
Concept of ‘non-personalised treatment’ and people being seen as ‘a possession someone has left behind’ (Goffman, 1968)
Depersonalisation: medicalisation
“Having the patients social self go home while the damages physical container is left for repair” (Lorber, 1975)
Detached healthcare
Depersonalisation: detachment
Treated as a number or object
Too efficient and busy
Made me feel I was lazy
You have to go along with whatever is happening to you
Sharp/cold in approach
Rough with physical care
Depersonalisation: engagement
Nothing was too much trouble
Asked me/consulted me
Cheerful and uses humour
Compassionate and kind
Knows what I want without asking
Always available
Gentle touch
Friendly and warm
Why are people treated in a depersonalised manner
Distance oneself from the patient
Protects themselves emotionally - trying to feel lees attached, feel less emotionally effected by the patients situation
Heavy responsibility and workload pressure
Element of burnout
