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An International prevalence measurement of care problems: study protocol
Author(s) -
NieVisser Noémi C.,
Schols Jos M.G.A.,
Meesterberends Esther,
Lohrmann Christa,
Meijers Judith M.M.,
Halfens Ruud J.G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/jan.12190
Subject(s) - benchmarking , audit , health care , medicine , quality (philosophy) , protocol (science) , nursing , family medicine , environmental health , medical emergency , business , alternative medicine , accounting , epistemology , pathology , marketing , economics , economic growth , philosophy
Aim The aim of this article was to describe the design of an international audit of the prevalence of care problems in different healthcare sectors using identical methodologies. Background Audits, defined as a monitor of quality of health care, are increasingly applied in many countries as a strategy to improve professional practice and quality and safety of care. A prerequisite to enable a reliable comparison of quality of care audits is the use of identical instruments and methodology. Design Annual cross‐sectional multi‐centre point prevalence survey. Method This international prevalence measurement of care problems in hospitals, care homes and home care is performed in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand. This study is based on a prevalence measurement of care problems originally performed in the Netherlands. For each care problem (pressure ulcer, incontinence, malnutrition, falls and restraints) at patient level, next to patient characteristics, data are gathered about the prevalence, prevention and treatment of each care problem. In addition, at ward/department and institution level, specific quality indicators are measured related to the care problems. After the measurement, institutions enter their data into a web‐based data‐entry program. Institutions receive an overview of their own results and results at national level to enable a process of benchmarking. Discussion A uniform way of measuring the prevalence of care problems internationally is a significant step forward in gaining insight into the quality of basic care in different healthcare settings in different countries and may lead to more awareness and improvement programmes.