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Table 3 Definitions of dignity

From: A systematic scoping review on patients’ perceptions of dignity

Ring

Theme

Country

Innate

Intrinsic worth [78,79,80,81, 83, 87, 88, 174]

Being acknowledged [175]

USA [174], Canada [78], Spain [79, 83], Iran [175], Netherlands [87], Norway [88], Sweden [80], Germany [81]

Inalienable right [97, 129, 175]

Iran [175], Netherlands [129], Spain [97]

Based on rationality, unique to humans [10]

Netherlands [10]

Being worthy, honoured, or esteemed [75, 78, 89, 98, 119, 120, 158] Being treated with respect, valued by others [84, 90, 101, 103, 138, 176, 177]

Canada [78, 119], China [158], UK [89], USA [98], Italy [75, 120] Sweden [103], Norway [90], France [138], USA [101, 177], Japan [176], Denmark [102], Greece [84]

Individual

Related to physical/ functional symptoms [94, 97]

UK [94], Spain [97]

Self-construed [6, 10, 87], self-defined [83, 84, 129, 175, 178], personal identity [6, 10, 78, 82,83,84, 91, 129, 175, 178]

Canada [78], Italy [82], Netherlands [10, 87, 129], Australia [6], Spain [83], Greece [84], Poland [178], Iran [175], UK [91]

Autonomy [85, 91, 98, 99]

USA [85, 98], Brazil [99], UK [91]

Relational

Caregivers being part of care [170]

Spain [170]

Maintaining familial ties [80, 87, 92, 95]

Netherlands [87], Singapore [92, 95], Sweden [80]

Receiving care and support from family [91,92,93, 102]

Denmark [102], Sweden [93], Singapore [92], UK [91]

Not wanting to burden family [87, 89, 91, 93, 95]

Netherlands [87], UK [91] [89], Singapore [95], Sweden [93]

Not wanting to lose familial roles [87]

Netherlands [87]

Societal

Social position [10, 87]

Netherlands [10, 87]

 

Rapport with healthcare team [6, 10, 78, 89, 91, 92, 95, 102]

Canada [78], Netherlands [10], UK [91], Denmark [102], Australia [6], Singapore [92, 95]

Multi-ring

Innate and societal worth [78, 93, 95]

Singapore [95], Sweden [93], Canada [78]

Individual and societal role [78, 92, 101, 103, 112, 158, 179]

Denmark [179], Canada [78], USA [101], Singapore [92], Sweden [103], Italy [112], China [158]

Innate and individual value [96]

USA [96], Canada [75], Denmark [102]

Innate, individual, societal place [86, 114, 175, 180]

Netherlands [86], Italy [181], USA [180], Iran [175], Greece [114]

Individual, relational [130]

China [130]

Ambiguous [78]

Canada [78]

Right to how and when to die [100]

Spain [100]

Death without suffering [100]

Spain [100]