Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study

Context: Care refusal behaviours in people living with dementia pose significant challenges in residential care settings, impacting care delivery quality and staff wellbeing. While Humanitude methodology offers a relationship-centred approach, empirical evidence for its effectiveness remains limite...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joao Partel Araujo, Helena Luz, Rosa Melo, Catherine Van Son
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LSE Press 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Long-Term Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/425
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849472637707747328
author Joao Partel Araujo
Helena Luz
Rosa Melo
Catherine Van Son
author_facet Joao Partel Araujo
Helena Luz
Rosa Melo
Catherine Van Son
author_sort Joao Partel Araujo
collection DOAJ
description Context: Care refusal behaviours in people living with dementia pose significant challenges in residential care settings, impacting care delivery quality and staff wellbeing. While Humanitude methodology offers a relationship-centred approach, empirical evidence for its effectiveness remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the immediate impact of a four-day Humanitude training programme on care refusal behaviours among residents with dementia in memory care units. Methods: A pre-post intervention study was conducted across four memory care units in the United States (October–December 2024). Participants included 47 residents with dementia exhibiting care refusal behaviours and 36 healthcare professionals. The intervention consisted of a standardised 28-hour Humanitude training programme. Primary outcome was measured using the Refusal of Care Informant Scale (RoCIS), with secondary outcomes including the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Findings: RoCIS scores showed significant improvement from baseline (M = 7.5, SD = 4.0) to post-intervention (M = 2.9, SD = 2.8; p < .001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.33). Secondary measures demonstrated substantial reductions in agitation and neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly in residents with severe dementia. Limitations: The pre-post design without a control group and short follow-up period limit causal inference and assessment of long-term effectiveness. Findings represent only immediate post-training effects; sustained benefits require further investigation. Implications: Humanitude training demonstrates significant immediate effectiveness in reducing care refusal behaviours in residents living with dementia, supporting its integration into standard care practices in memory care settings.
format Article
id doaj-art-3142c3018edd4c209a66ebeaf66eb8d5
institution Kabale University
issn 2516-9122
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher LSE Press
record_format Article
series Journal of Long-Term Care
spelling doaj-art-3142c3018edd4c209a66ebeaf66eb8d52025-08-20T03:24:29ZengLSE PressJournal of Long-Term Care2516-91222025-06-0110.31389/jltc.425Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post StudyJoao Partel Araujo0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0037-9383Helena Luz1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1592-0953Rosa Melo2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0941-407XCatherine Van Son3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0491-5748Via Hominis; UICISA: E – Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: EnfermagemFaculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Coimbra; Centro de Estudos Interdisciplinares – CEIS20 – Universidade de CoimbraEscola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra; UICISA: E – Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: EnfermagemWashington State University-Vancouver Context: Care refusal behaviours in people living with dementia pose significant challenges in residential care settings, impacting care delivery quality and staff wellbeing. While Humanitude methodology offers a relationship-centred approach, empirical evidence for its effectiveness remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the immediate impact of a four-day Humanitude training programme on care refusal behaviours among residents with dementia in memory care units. Methods: A pre-post intervention study was conducted across four memory care units in the United States (October–December 2024). Participants included 47 residents with dementia exhibiting care refusal behaviours and 36 healthcare professionals. The intervention consisted of a standardised 28-hour Humanitude training programme. Primary outcome was measured using the Refusal of Care Informant Scale (RoCIS), with secondary outcomes including the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Findings: RoCIS scores showed significant improvement from baseline (M = 7.5, SD = 4.0) to post-intervention (M = 2.9, SD = 2.8; p < .001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.33). Secondary measures demonstrated substantial reductions in agitation and neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly in residents with severe dementia. Limitations: The pre-post design without a control group and short follow-up period limit causal inference and assessment of long-term effectiveness. Findings represent only immediate post-training effects; sustained benefits require further investigation. Implications: Humanitude training demonstrates significant immediate effectiveness in reducing care refusal behaviours in residents living with dementia, supporting its integration into standard care practices in memory care settings. https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/425Humanitude training programmedementia carecare refusalperson-centred carebehavioural symptomsmemory care
spellingShingle Joao Partel Araujo
Helena Luz
Rosa Melo
Catherine Van Son
Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study
Journal of Long-Term Care
Humanitude training programme
dementia care
care refusal
person-centred care
behavioural symptoms
memory care
title Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study
title_full Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study
title_short Effectiveness of Humanitude Training on Care Refusal in Dementia: A Pre-Post Study
title_sort effectiveness of humanitude training on care refusal in dementia a pre post study
topic Humanitude training programme
dementia care
care refusal
person-centred care
behavioural symptoms
memory care
url https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/425
work_keys_str_mv AT joaopartelaraujo effectivenessofhumanitudetrainingoncarerefusalindementiaaprepoststudy
AT helenaluz effectivenessofhumanitudetrainingoncarerefusalindementiaaprepoststudy
AT rosamelo effectivenessofhumanitudetrainingoncarerefusalindementiaaprepoststudy
AT catherinevanson effectivenessofhumanitudetrainingoncarerefusalindementiaaprepoststudy