The Contribution of Cultural Heritage Owned by Local Health Authorities in the Humanization of Care: The Point of View of Top Management

Abstract

After the COVID-19 pandemic, reforms in healthcare systems have the purpose to fully recover the relationship of healthcare organizations with their patients. For centuries, art was used throughout Europe in the healthcare context for its power to engage and support patients in their illnesses. This approach can be rediscovered by utilizing the cultural heritage owned by Local Health Authorities. In this context, tradition, art, innovation, and care coexist. This study aims to investigate the interest in developing projects for the humanization of care by the top management of Italian Local Health Authorities, in particular exploiting their cultural heritage. The evaluation of the proposal was conducted using semi-structured interviews with the top management of two Local Health Authorities, in which the Santa Maria Nuova hospital in Florence and the Santo Spirito in Sassia Hospital in Rome are located, as the two selected cases for this study. The interviewees welcomed the proposal to develop humanization of care projects involving the use of their cultural heritage. Moreover, they expressed their desire to invest human, economic, and structural resources in the development of these initiatives. The implementation of humanization of care projects using cultural heritage owned by Local Health Authorities is useful to apply specific policies to enhance the governance of the cultural heritage according to the health mission. On the other hand, it permits the search for additional or ad hoc resources. Finally, it is possible to humanize and improve patients’ experience while increasing awareness among the health workforce and trainees.

Art therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. An opportunity of collaboration between intersectoral public and private organizations in the co-design of health and social care services

“…In recent years, the introduction of art therapy in many health and social care settings (i.e., inpatients wards, outpatient services, nursing homes, hospice, rehabilitative centres) has been favoured for its application in humanizing care ( 25 ).…”

“…In recent years, the introduction of art therapy in many health and social care settings (i.e., inpatients wards, outpatient services, nursing homes, hospice, rehabilitative centres) has been favoured for its application in humanizing care (25). Among all possible targets, art therapy is especially used with older people owing to its contribution in healthy aging and its action as a protective factor against the physiological loss of physical and cognitive functions (26).…”

The Impact of Art Therapy on Mental Health and Well-being

“…Music therapists use music purposely within a therapeutic relationship to support health care goals for all age groups and diagnoses including dementia care, neonatal intensive care, autism, mental illness, and perioperative care. Systematic reviews report positive findings as a result of engaging in music therapy, such as improved verbal fluency, reduced anxiety, reduced depression, reduced pain perception, improved psychosocial measures, and improved motivation for treatment, while also recognizing the need for clinical trials with larger sample sizes, appropriate experimental methodology, and objective measurements of treatment effectiveness in order to substantiate these claims (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25).…”

“…International Classification of Health of Functioning Disability was approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) defines "disability" as an interaction between multidimensional factors at the individual, social, and physical levels (25). People with disabilities have more limited access to digital technology than the general public (26,27).…”

“…There are encouraging indications from Australia (4), Canada (22), and the US (24,25) that art therapy might offer a valuable and relevant support for clients of all ages living in rural areas. However, despite growing evidence of its benefits and acceptability, art therapy is rarely available in more remote locations in Scotland, with existing art therapy services predominantly centred around urban areas.…”