Exploring the Impact of Namaste Care: A Systematic Review of Costs, Effects and Benefits
Namaste Care is a daily multi-component palliative care intervention, for persons living with dementia. This systematic review explores its effects in multiple care settings, focusing on clinical and economic endpoints.
Research Design and Methods
This systematic search used three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to find peer-reviewed studies on Namaste Care’s impact on quality of life, costs, and health and economic benefits. Selection of included articles, data extraction and methodological quality assessments using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool were conducted by two researchers independently.
Results
Twenty-eight studies reported clinical and economic outcomes of Namaste Care. Studies reported mixed effectiveness in outcomes; four of nine studies evaluating quality of life (QoL) found significant improvements. Different outcome measurement instruments were used. QUALID was frequently used to measure QoL (n=8), with EQ-5D-3L/5L, ICECAP-O/SCM, QUALIDEM, and C-DEMQOL each used once. Other clinical outcomes were pain, behavioral symptoms, and quality of end-of-life care, each measured by three instruments. The Medication Quantification Scale and Minimum Data Set showed reduced use in antidepressant and antianxiety medications. Six studies demonstrated significant well-being improvements, and family members reported reduced stress after three months of Namaste Care in one study.
Discussion and Implications:
Healthcare interventions may be worth pursuing even if cost-effectiveness is not confirmed. This may be due to non-economic factors, considering benefits for caregivers and patients. The findings suggest Namaste Care may improve well-being, reduce caregiver stress, and lower antidepressant and antianxiety medication use, but further research is needed to confirm these effects in randomized control settings.