A lifeworld theory-led action research process for humanising services: Improving ‘what matters’ to older people to enhance humanly sensitive care.

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: Using a theory-led action research process test applicability of humanising 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 Humanising 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 contextualised practical details of humanising processes and outcomes that can contribute to portable pathways to enhance dignity in care through application of humanising care theory in practice. Conclusions: 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, sensitising practitioners’ understandings and helping develop new ways of providing theoretically robust person centred care based on lifeworld approaches.