PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - McDermott, Pamela TI - Patient Dignity Question DP - 2019 Nov 01 TA - Canadian Family Physician PG - 812--819 VI - 65 IP - 11 4099 - http://www.cfp.ca/content/65/11/812.short 4100 - http://www.cfp.ca/content/65/11/812.full SO - Can Fam Physician2019 Nov 01; 65 AB - Objective To investigate the feasibility of using the Patient Dignity Question (PDQ) in a small rural hospice setting.Design Prospective study.Setting The 5-bed Algonquin Grace Hospice in Huntsville, Ont.Participants Nineteen patients who met the research criteria and who were admitted to the hospice from September 2015 to December 2016.Methods Participants completed the Patient Dignity Inventory and modified versions of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale before and after the PDQ interviews.Main findings While each of the 19 PDQ interviews was unique, there were many consistencies regarding accomplishments (eg, being a good parent), hopes (eg, one’s need of being respected), and fears (eg, concerns about pets) that emerged from participants’ stories. Hospice staff found the documents from PDQ interviews to be very valuable in their understanding of patients. Staff and patients unanimously wanted the program to continue. An unexpected benefit was the response of the patients’ families who were deeply moved by the legacy documents, often sharing them following their family member’s death.Conclusion The PDQ is a dignity-conserving intervention that serves as a meaningful end-of-life legacy document that benefits patients, staff, and families. Using the PDQ at the hospice helped patients feel truly heard, and increased caregivers’ compassion and understanding of patients’ needs.