Data Quality of National Quality Indicators in Long-term Care Facilities: a Validation and Evaluation Study

This multiple-methods study with two data collection points (T0 and T1) aims to: 1. assess inter-rater reliability of the six national quality indicators in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for older people in Switzerland (T0); 2. explore determinants of data quality of the national quality indicators (T0), 3. evaluate adoption and effectiveness of a bundle of measures to improve data quality of the national quality indicators (T1). The study will take place in three language regions of Switzerland. The intended sample is 30 LTCFs . The current reliability of the national quality indicator data will be assessed by comparing two independent quality indicator assessments for the same 30 residents per facility. Afterwards a focus group discussion will be conducted in each facility to explore determinants (barriers and facilitators) to data collection of the national quality indicators. Findings from the first data collection period will be used to develop a program with a bundle of measures (interventions and implementation strategies) to improve data quality of the national quality indicators. The program will be piloted in a separate study and then implemented in the LTCFs, which took part in the initial data collection. The second data collection period will start 3 months after the implementation of the program. A survey of healthcare and management staff will be conducted to assess implementation outcomes. A second reliability assessment of the quality indicators will be conducted with the same procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented measures.