The struggle for dignity by people with severe functional disabilities.

Full Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate what strategies people with severe functional disabilities who receive personal assistance in their homes use in their daily life to achieve autonomy, integrity, influence and participation. Qualitative interviews were carried out and subjected to qualitative latent content analysis. The main finding was expressed in terms of six subthemes: trying to keep a private sphere; striving to communicate; searching for possibilities; taking the initiative; striving to gain insight; and using one's temperament. These generated the overall theme: maintaining dignity in close relationships. This study contributes an understanding of the strategies used by people who are dependent on personal assistance. Future efforts in nursing must focus on supporting personal assistants with ethical knowledge and guidance in order that people with severe functional disabilities are empowered to achieve autonomy, integrity, influence and participation in their daily lives.

Author information

Author/s: Wadensten, Barbro (B); Ahlström, Gerd (G);

Affiliation: Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Nursing ethics (Nurs Ethics), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 16 (issue 4) : pp 453-65

Dates: Created 2009/06/16; Completed 2009/09/25;

PMID: 19528102, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/25/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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