Personhood Beliefs in Dementia Care: Influences of Race, Socioeconomic Factors, and Social Vulnerability

TL;DR

This study explores how race, age, and training influence beliefs about personhood in dementia care, highlighting the need for culturally responsive training to improve care outcomes.

Contribution

The study identifies demographic and contextual factors influencing personhood beliefs in dementia care, emphasizing the role of race and training.

Findings

Race, age, professional discipline, and prior training significantly predict personhood beliefs.

Beliefs about psychosocial engagement vary by social vulnerability and healthcare experience, though not overall personhood beliefs.

Culturally responsive training is suggested to improve care in multicultural settings.

Abstract

Beliefs about personhood held by healthcare professionals and care partners influence care outcomes, satisfaction, and the well-being of persons living with dementia (PLWD). This study examined differences in personhood beliefs based on demographic and contextual factors, including the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), using registration data from the Bravo Zulu care partner training program (n = 540). Guided by the Ring Theory of Personhood, eight factors were analyzed: age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, professional discipline, healthcare experience, prior care partner training, and SVI. One-way ANOVA and independent t-tests were used to examine group-level differences, and multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the extent to which these factors predicted personhood beliefs. Race, age (borderline significance) professional discipline, and prior training as a care partner were significant predictors of personhood beliefs. Subscale analyses using ANOVA and t-test showed that beliefs about psychosocial engagement varied by SVI and healthcare experience with small effect size; however, these factors did not significantly predict of overall personhood beliefs in the regression model. Findings underscore the importance of recognizing how background characteristics shape personhood beliefs about PLWD. Promoting self-reflection and expanding culturally responsive training may support person- and relationship-centered care and improve satisfaction in multicultural care settings.