Person-Centred Care Research focuses on knowledge production that links to a theoretical understanding of person-centred practice.

"Person-centredness is an approach to practice that aims to create and promote healthy relationships between all service providers, service users (patients, clients, residents) and others who are important to them in their lives (family or other loved ones). It is based on the values of respect for the person (personhood), the individual right to self-determination, mutual respect and understanding. Person-centredness is enabled by a culture of empowerment that promotes continuous approaches to practice development." (McCormack & McCance, 2017)

The aim of the research is to explore how person-centredness can best and most effectively be practiced. In particular, there is a great need for research in the area of implementation and impact research, both in terms of the relationship between person-centredness and various health-related outcomes, and in terms of developing adequate measurement tools. The theoretical basis for this is provided by the Person Centred Practice Framework (McCormack&McCance, 2007, 2017, 2021), respectively the Person Centred Care Framework (McCormack&McCance 2021) and the PeoPLe model (Mayer, McCormack&McCance, 2021).

The topic of Dementia Care Research directly follows the topic of person-centredness in terms of content and forms a special focus of the department.

Since dementia is one of the main causes for the development of the need for long-term care, the care of people with dementia and the support of their relatives, in addition to the social and societal components, represent a central challenge for the health care system of the future. An integrated, evidence-based and person-centred care approach is essential for good care and support of people with dementia.

The aim of research in the department is to develop and evaluate new research-based concepts and concrete interventions for the care of people with dementia.  A particular challenge is the justified demand and necessity to bring the perspective of those affected to the fore and to actively involve them in research. Therefore, the question of developing adequate research methods is always at the centre of scientific work.