Testing the Implementation of a Toolbox to Optimize Data Collection and Data Quality of the National Medical Quality Indicators in Long-term Care Facilities: A Pilot Study. (NIP-Q-UPGRADE Subaim 1.8)

Since 2019, long-term care facilities in Switzerland are obliged by the Federal Insurance Law (KVG, Art. 59a) to report data for the calculation and public reporting of medical quality indicators (MQI). By 2024, this is done in four clinical domains: polypharmacy, pain, malnutrition and the use of physical restraints. This data is used for both monitoring quality of care on a national level and for internal quality of care development. To be valid and reliable, MQI data needs to be collected according to specified measurement instructions. An ethnographic study conducted within the NIP-Q-UPGRADE identified numerous challenges, which can lead to poor data quality. The overall aim of this pilot study is to test the implementation of a data quality development toolkit concerning the MQI. The toolkit uses a train-the-trainer strategy. The research team will prepare external training providers to train delegated staff from the long-term care facilities (further called champions), who will then train and support their co-workers to collect reliable MQI data. The research team developed training and support materials and organized an e-mail contact centre for MQI related questions for the participating facilities. Implementation outcomes will be assessed at two levels: long-term care facilities and the external training providers. Objectives at the external training provider level: 1. To determine the acceptability and feasibility of the training and support materials. 2. To determine the fidelity to the training and adaptations made when implementing it. 3. To identify the barriers and facilitators for the implementation of the training. 4. To measure the costs associated with delivering the training. Objectives at the long-term care facility level: 1. To determine the acceptability and the feasibility of the data quality development toolkit components. 2. To determine the fidelity to toolkit components and adaptations made when implementing it. 3. To identify the