Cuidar em humanitude: estudo aplicado em cuidados continuados

The first scientific study of the Gineste and Marescotti (MGM) Humanitude method of care was developed in Portugal by Simões, Rodrigues and Salgueiro (2011b). As a follow-up, this action research study involves a team of caregivers and a dependent elderly population hospitalized in a Continuing Care Unit (UCCI), with the aim of developing the skills of caregivers with regard to the application of GMM and assessing the evolution of physical, cognitive and emotional responses of care recipients, according to this method. The measurement instruments include two scales on perception of the value and applicability of MGM, already validated in the previous study, and a grid for systematic direct observation, validated in this study. The results of the initial diagnosis match those of the previous study, indicating a strong perception of the value and clinical application of the sequence of procedures, yet observational data revealed several discrepancies between intention and actual implementation. In this study, we describe, at some length, the course of the first stages of this project. The results of these first cycle actions guide the subsequent one, while following the methodology of Investigation Action Associated (IAA).