Conversations Regarding Personhood: Use of the Patient Dignity Question in an Outpatient Psycho-Oncology Clinic

• Published in: Journal of palliative medicine Vol. 22; no. 12; p. 1574
• Main Authors: Meier, Emily A, Naqvi, Jeanean B, Xiao, Jingyuan, Montross, Lori P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; California; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; Outpatients - psychology; Palliative Care - psychology; Patient-Centered Care - methods; Personhood; Pilot Projects; Psycho-Oncology; Psychotherapy - methods; Respect; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; California; dignity; cancer; patient outcomes; patient centered; personhood; clinical care
• DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0256

The Patient Dignity Question (PDQ) is a single question, which directly asks the patient, "What should I know about you as to help me take the best care of you that I can?" Research has demonstrated that the PDQ enhances quality health care within an inpatient palliative care setting; however, no research to date has examined the PDQ in an outpatient setting, particularly a psycho-oncology setting. The PDQ was administered as part of routine clinical care in an outpatient psycho-oncology clinic to enhance patient-centered care. Individuals diagnosed with cancer (  = 66) were referred for individual psychotherapy primarily for anxiety and/or depression. After gathering a thorough patient history during the initial psychology consult, patients were asked the PDQ as it was worded without further prompting. Patient responses were then qualitatively analyzed to measure the most common themes. The themes expressed by patients in response to the PDQ included (59.7%), which referenced individual characteristics and core personality traits, (21.7%) described how patients' lives have been impacted since receiving a cancer diagnosis, and (18.4%) in which patients described what goals they wanted to achieve in their lives (both general and specific to psychotherapy). Data from this small pilot study show promise that this brief assessment tool can be readily added to a psychological intake assessment and patients appreciated being asked about their personhood. Incorporating the PDQ into standard psychological care allows patients to be "seen" and helps us to acknowledge the in the patient.