552 - Humanitude Care on Patients with Dementia and Delirium in Acute Hospital Improves Outcomes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Older patients with dementia and/or delirium often have challengingbehaviours such as refusal of care and aggression. These cause much distress to both healthcare staffand patients, increase burden of care and put older patients at risk of functional decline. Humanitude, amethodology of care developed by Gineste and Marescotti, is a relationship-centred and compassionatecare approach that aims to enable patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness ofHumanitude on older patients' well-being, mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs).Design: Quasi-experimental, non-equivalent controlled trial design.Setting: Acute care hospitalParticipants: Twenty patients diagnosed with dementia and/or delirium were recruited from twogeriatric wards. Ten were in the Humanitude ward and the other ten in a conventional ward receivedusual care for older patients served as concurrent controls.Intervention: Patients in Humanitude ward received Humanitude care by trained healthcare workersduring day-to-day care, which is based on the 4 pillars of gaze, speech, touch and verticality (maintainingan upright position). Every patient encounter utilizing Humanitude techniques follow a structured caresequence that helps draw the patient into the care relationship.Measurements: The outcome measures include Modified Perme ICU Mobility Score, Bradford Wellbeing Profile and Modified Barthel Index (MBI).Results: There was significant improvement of median score within the Humanitude group fromadmission to discharge in mobility (admission: 9.0 [0-27] vs discharge 19.5 [1-36], p=0.002∗), MBI(admission: 20 [0.0-46] vs discharge: 54.3 [3-81], p = 0.002∗∗) and well-being (admission: 7.0 [1-15] vsdischarge 20.0 [8-26], p=0.002∗∗). The median increase in the score of Humanitude group was alsosignificantly higher than usual care group in mobility (Humanitude: 8 [1-24] vs usual care 0 [-9-16], p=0.02∗), MBI (Humanitude: 17.5 [3-64] vs usual care 0 [-3-17], p= <0.001∗∗∗), and well-being(Humanitude: 11 [6-20] vs usual care 0 [-5-4], p= <0.001 ∗∗∗).Conclusion: Humanitude care improves outcomes in mobility, ADL function and well-being for patientswith dementia and/or delirium in the acute hospital.