A lifeworld theory-led action research process for humanizing services: improving “what matters” to older people to enhance humanly sensitive care

Kathleen T Galvin, Carole Pound, Fiona Cowdell, Caroline Ellis-Hill, Claire Sloan, Sheila Brooks, Steven Ersser

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Purpose: Using a theory-led action research process test applicability of humanizing care theory to better understand what matters to people and assess how the process can improve human dimensions of health care services. Consideration of the value of this process to guide enhancements in humanly sensitive care and investigate transferable benefits of the participatory strategy for improving human dimensions of health care services. Methods: Action research with service users, practitioners and academics, with participatory processes led through the application of theory via a novel Humanizing Care Framework in two diverse clinical settings. Results: Participants engaged in a theory-led participatory process, understood and valued the framework seeing how it relates to own experiences. Comparative analysis of settings identified transferable processes with potential to enhance human dimensions of care more generally. We offer transferable strategy with contextualized practical details of humanizing processes and outcomes that can contribute to portable pathways to enhance dignity in care through application of humanizing care theory in practice. Conclusion: The theoretical framework is a feasible and effective guide to enhance human dimensions of care. Our rigorous participative process facilitates sharing of patient and staff experience, sensitizing practitioners’ understandings and helping develop new ways of providing theoretically robust person-centred care based on lifeworld approaches.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number1817275
    JournalInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being
    Volume15
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 23 Nov 2020

    Keywords

    • Humanised care
    • lifeworld-led care
    • phenomenology
    • service improvement
    • action research
    • skin care
    • stroke rehabilitation
    • care
    • Humanized care

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