Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care of Nursing Home Residents in Korea

Identification of formation mechanism and key elements of quality geriatric care behavior of nursing assistants in nursing homes: a grounded theory study

Objectives

This study aimed to identify the key elements and develop a formation mechanism model of quality geriatric care behavior for nursing assistants.

Methods

This qualitative research employed the strategy of grounded theory proposed by Strauss and Corbin. Furthermore, the data was collected by participatory observation and semi-structured interviews. A total of 12 nursing managers, 63 nursing assistants, and 36 older people from 9 nursing homes in 6 cities were interviewed, whereas for the observatory survey, participants were recruited from 2 nursing homes.

Results

The comparative and analysis process revealed 5 key elements of quality geriatric care behavior, including holistic care, personalized care, respect, positive interaction, and empowerment. Based on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model, key elements and the 3 stages of quality geriatric care behavior (negative behavior cognition stage, practice exchange run-in stage, and positive behavior reinforcement stage), the theoretical framework of the formation mechanism was established.

Conclusion

The results indicated that nursing assistants' capabilities, motivation, and organizational and environmental support are vital for quality care behaviors. The theoretical framework established in this study provides theoretical support and practical reference to policymakers, institutional administrators, and healthcare professionals for improving nursing assistant's care behaviors.

Metro-Nonmetro Differences in Adverse Events in Residential Care Communities: Results From the National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study

More than 1 in 5 older Americans live in rural areas (10.6 million of the 46.2 million aged 65 and older). Long-term care for aging rural populations is a growing challenge in the United States. Research on long-term care services in nonmetro areas has focused almost exclusively on nursing home care, despite growth of residential care alternatives. This paper uses unique facility-level data from the 2020 National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study (NPALS) to examine the relationship of residential care community (RCC) features in metro and nonmetro settings with adverse outcomes (emergency department visits, overnight hospital stays, and falls). Nationally, in 2020, about 13.5% of RCC residents made visits to the emergency department, 8.6% had overnight hospital stays, and 21.3% had falls. Controlling for facility characteristics, RCCs in metro areas had higher risks of overnight hospital stays (p < .001) but lower risks of falls (p = .06).

Long-term Care Facility Staff's Experience of Safety Activities: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Ensuring the safety and quality of care is paramount in long-term care facilities due to residents' vulnerability.

OBJECTIVE

We explored the experiences of long-term care facility staff (eg, registered nurses [RNs], certified nursing assistants [CNAs], care workers, social workers, and physical therapists) in safety activities, aiming to understand their meaning and nature.

METHODS

We conducted qualitative focus group interviews with 25 participants, specifically addressing safety issues in long-term care facilities through the use of open-ended questions. We transcribed the data and conducted thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants engaged in discussions about various challenges, including assisting residents in maintaining physical comfort, managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, ensuring medication safety, implementing infection control practices, and providing adequate training on fire prevention, evacuation, and response protocols. Themes identified were "physical comfort," "managing dementia symptoms," "drug administration," "infection control," and "fire prevention."

CONCLUSIONS

The staff emphasized the safety of residents as their highest priority. Considering the lack of registered nurses in long-term care facilities, ongoing training and supervision are necessary to ensure that other long-term care facility staff can perform safety activities.

Effects of registered nurses' staffing levels, work environment and education levels on nursing home residents' quality of life and nurse outcomes

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of registered nurse staffing levels, work environment and education levels on the residents' quality of life and nurses' job dissatisfaction, burnout and turnover intention.

BACKGROUND

Registered nurse staffing status and work environment are suboptimal in nursing homes worldwide. Nursing home care aims to maximise residents' quality of life. However, evidence on the impact of registered nurse staffing levels, work environment and education levels on the residents' quality of life and nurse outcomes in nursing homes is limited.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional observational study.

METHODS

A total of 513 residents and 117 registered nurses from 39 nursing homes in South Korea participated in surveys. The main measures included registered nurses' staffing levels, work environment, education levels, residents' quality of life, registered nurses' job dissatisfaction, burnout and turnover intention. We analysed data using the generalised estimating equations and reported the study using the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

Overall, the residents' quality-of-life score was 13.7 ± 2.6 (out of 17). Residents in nursing homes with a higher number of registered nurses or with work environment evaluated as 'mixed' or 'better' (compared with 'poor') had a higher quality of life. Regarding nurse outcomes, 74.4% of the registered nurses were dissatisfied with their current jobs, 12.0% had burnout and 18.8% had a turnover intention. Registered nurses working in 'mixed' or 'better' work environment were less likely to have job dissatisfaction. Registered nurses' education levels did not have a statistically significant effect on the resident and nurse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Registered nurse staffing levels and work environment should be considered important for improving residents' quality of life and nurses' job satisfaction.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Regulation and policy reforms are needed to increase the registered nurse staffing levels and to create a good work environment in nursing homes.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Nursing home residents and registered nurses participated in the surveys of this study. Registered nurses facilitated resident recruitment by identifying and introducing the study to residents who were eligible for study participation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Characteristics of nursing homes with high percentages of falls and falls with injuries among residents with obesity

BACKGROUND

Obesity among United States nursing home (NH) residents is increasing. These residents have special care needs, which increases their risk for falls and falls with injuries. NH are responsible for ensuring the health of their residents, including minimizing falls. However, given the special care needs of residents with obesity, different factors may be important for developing programs to minimize falls among this group.

AIM

We aimed to identify NH characteristics associated with falls and falls with injuries among residents with obesity.

METHOD

We used resident assessment data and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

We found that rates of falls and falls with injuries among residents with obesity varied significantly based on for-profit status, size, acuity index, obesity rate among residents, and registered nurse hours per patient day.

CONCLUSION

Recommendations are made as to how NH may be able to lower risk for falls and falls with injuries among their residents with obesity.

Integrating social support into interventions among the elderly in nursing homes: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to understand the evidence related to integration of social support into interventions, to identify literature gaps related to social support interventions, and to clarify dimensions of supportive functions, outcomes, and providers among the elderly in nursing homes.

DESIGN

This scoping review followed the approach by Arksey and O'Malley. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool V.2018 was used for quality assessment of the studies.

DATA SOURCES

Searches were conducted of the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Public Library of Science, SocioHub, Wiley Online Library and PsycINFO databases for publications from 2010 to 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

We searched for primary studies and heterogeneous study designs published in English. Eligible studies took place in nursing and care homes and had study populations of elderly adults (older adults, geriatrics, ageing, seniors, older people and those aged 60 years and older).

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

A data extraction form based on Joanna Briggs Institute's recommendations for scoping reviews was used. Two reviewers independently extracted data and performed quality assessment of the studies. Then, extracted data and quality assessment reports were discussed by all authors.

RESULTS

Thirty-one eligible studies were included in this review. 54.8% of the studies provided interventions for cognitively impaired residents. The top-three outcomes were neuropsychiatric symptoms, physical function and quality of life, respectively. The interventions were performed by nursing home staff (83.9%), other persons with specific qualifications (58.1%) and health volunteers (6.5%). Most studies (90.3%) depicted the integration of emotional and instrumental supportive functions into interventions.

CONCLUSION

The appropriate dimensions of supportive function, mainly emotional and instrumental support, are important to integrate into the social care of elderly people living in nursing homes.

Factors associated with retention intention of Registered Nurses in Korean nursing homes

AIM

To identify the factors associated with retention intention among Registered Nurses in South Korean nursing homes.

BACKGROUND

Although nurses are not mandatory personnel, Korean nursing homes employ Registered Nurses.

INTRODUCTION

Determining the factors related to Registered Nurses' retention intention is important for their job stability and ensure provision of quality care.

METHODS

This mixed-methods study employed a sequential explanatory design. A self-reported questionnaire survey was conducted between May 1 and July 3, 2019, with 155 Registered Nurses providing direct care from 37 nursing homes. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 participants from August 1 to September 30, 2019. Data were analyzed using multilevel analysis for quantitative study and thematic analysis for qualitative study.

RESULTS

The participants' average age was 48.48 years. Personal factors related to retention intention were Registered Nurses' role, educational level, and job satisfaction. Institutional factors were ownership, number of beds, and working environment. The qualitative study revealed five themes: "Satisfaction with meaningful relationships," "Potential for professional growth," "Nursing service accompanied by emotional labor," "Poor working environments in nursing homes," and "Unprotected nursing expertise."

DISCUSSION

A nursing home's work environment is related to the Registered Nurses' retention intention. Most Registered Nurses in Korea received low wages, lacked access to career management programs, and experienced emotional labor.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted the personal and institutional factors related to retention intention among Registered Nurses in South Korean nursing homes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND NURSING POLICY

A law that designates Registered Nurses as an essential nursing home workforce is required. Further, nursing homes should increase the number of Registered Nurses to improve working conditions and thereby job satisfaction. It is also necessary to foster a working environment that facilitates professional development opportunities and job clarity.

Registered Nurses' perspective of systemic factors affecting nursing home care quality decline: A qualitative descriptive study

AIM

A growing number of older people are living in nursing homes worldwide, but their safety and quality of care are not guaranteed. This study explores registered nurses' (RNs) perspectives on systemic factors affecting the quality of care and safety decline of nursing home.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive study.

METHODS

In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 RNs working in six nursing homes, who were chosen through purposive sampling. Data were collected from 1 August-19 September 2019, and analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The following five themes were derived: lack of sufficient number of RNs, poor work conditions, unclear job descriptions for RNs, no official position of nursing director and absence of transition care system.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

All reports of RNs affecting resident safety and quality of care decline were related to systemic factors. Therefore, improving quality of care in nursing homes should be supported by changes in systemic factors, such as maintaining an appropriate number of RNs and improving their working conditions.

Nurse staffing and deficiency of care for inappropriate psychotropic medication use in nursing home residents with dementia

PURPOSE

Psychotropic medications are used to manage behavioral symptoms of dementia in nursing homes despite limited efficacy and the risk of adverse effects, and may be considered an easier solution for the treatment of behavioral symptoms. However, non-pharmacologic interventions are preferable but are most effective with consistent staffing. To address this, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented additional regulatory scrutiny through F-tag for deficiencies of care, targeting inappropriate psychotropic medication use (F-758 tag). The purpose of this study was to examine associations between nurse staffing levels and the occurrence of deficiency citations for inappropriate psychotropic medication use in residents with dementia symptoms.

DESIGN

This was secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study using CASPER (Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting) and PBJ (Payroll-Based Journal) data from 14,548 Medicare or Medicaid-certified facilities surveyed between December 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018.

METHODS

Staffing measures included nursing hours per resident day and registered nurse skill-mix. Generalized linear mixed models with facilities nested within states, were used to estimate the magnitude of the associations between the occurrence of inappropriate psychotropics use deficiency citations and nurse staffing levels. Covariates included facility location, size, ownership, the presence of dementia special care units, and the proportion of residents with dementia, depression, psychiatric disorders, mental behavioral symptoms, and residents with Medicare/Medicaid.

RESULTS

There were 1875 facilities with deficiency citations regarding inappropriate psychotropics use for residents with dementia. When controlling for covariates, facilities with greater hours per resident day for registered nurses (odds ratio [OR] = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.44-0.67), certified nursing assistants (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.77-0.99) and total nurse staff (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79-0.96) had significantly lower odds of inappropriate psychotropics use deficiency citations. Nursing homes with greater registered nurse skill-mix had significantly lower odds of receiving the deficiency tags (OR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.04-0.26).

CONCLUSION

Citations for inappropriate psychotropic medication use among residents with dementia were less likely to occur in facilities with higher staffing levels for registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, total nurse staff, and greater registered nurse skill-mix. Facilities need to be equipped with adequate nurse staffing levels to facilitate the use of non-pharmacological interventions and reduce inappropriate psychotropic medication use.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Adequate nursing staffing is associated with fewer deficiencies related to the use of psychotropic medications to treat behavioral symptoms. Nursing home administrators and policymakers need to focus on assuring adequate nurse staffing levels to provide safe and high-quality dementia care.

Association Between Long-Term Care Facility Staffing Levels and Antipsychotic Use in US Long-Term Care Facilities

OBJECTIVES

Inappropriate use of antipsychotics is an indicator of quality of care in long-term care (LTC) facilities. There is evidence to suggest that staffing levels in LTC may be associated with the rates of inappropriate antipsychotic use. This study sought to examine the association between staffing and antipsychotic prescribing in LTC facilities.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study investigated the association between reported staffing levels and the frequency of inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing at US LTC facilities between 2016 and 2018.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data from the Nursing Home Compare and LTCFocus datasets were linked, which contain information from the Minimum Data Set database on facility characteristics and staffing measures from the Payroll-Based Journal system. A final sample set of 10,436 facilities was used.

METHODS

Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables of interest. An unadjusted linear correlation analysis and linear regression were performed. Potential confounders were investigated by comparison across low-vs high-staffing facilities where adjusted for in regression analyses.

RESULTS

The mean staff level for the facilities was identified as 3.69 (SD = 0.67) staffing hours per patient per day, and the mean antipsychotic use rate across all facilities was 15.24% (SD = 8.62%). There was a 0.75% decrease in inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing per unit increase in overall staff-to-patient ratio. When looking at staffing types, a 3.09% decrease in inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing per unit increase in licensed staff hours. More specifically, we saw a 2.25% decrease per unit increase in RN staffing hours, a 1.83% decrease per unit increase in LPN staffing hours, and nursing aide staffing hours were not associated with antipsychotic use.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings provide support for policy-based interventions to decrease antipsychotic use in LTC facilities by improving staffing skill mix and staffing levels. The results may also inform nursing staff education and training on antipsychotic prescribing practices.

Identifying the Service Capability of Long-Term Care Facilities in China: An e-Delphi Study

Objective

This study develops a group of service capability indicators for long-term care facilities to assess their current conditions and makes it the first step toward the improvement of service capability in China.

Methods

We constructed an initial indicator framework based on the characteristics of long-term care services and a literature review. Potential indicators were collected, and a 2-round modified web-based Delphi process was conducted by a national multidisciplinary expert panel to construct a service capability evaluation index system. The accepted competencies of indicators were established with mean scores in all three scoring criteria (importance, feasibility, and sensitivity) ≥ 4.0, consensus rate reached 70.0%, and a coefficient of variation ≤ 0.25.

Results

A new indicator framework covering 2 dimensions of inputs and activities was developed in this study. The initial 35 indicators formed an indicator pool for the Delphi questionnaire. According to the final consensus of the expert panel, the Delphi consultation resulted in an index system comprised 31 tertiary indicators across six subdimensions (i) staffing; (ii) facilities and equipment; (iii) funding; (iv) medical inspection services; (v) health management services; (vi) institutional standard management.

Conclusion

This study developed a set of indicators suitable for the long-term care system in China and is expected to be applied to measure and improve the service capability of long-term care facilities. In addition, these indicators can be used for comparisons between different LTCFs and provide an evidence basis for the further development of capability assessment tools.

Predictors of patient safety activities among registered nurses and nurse aides in long-term care facilities: cross-sectional study

Background

In Korea, nurse aides (NAs) are legally permitted as substitutes for registered nurses (RNs) in long-term care (LTC) facilities, even though they have very different levels of education and qualification standards. Many studies in hospitals have shown better hospital nurse staffing, more educated nurses, and improved nurse work environments have been associated with lower hospital mortality and length of stay. There is research showing that a higher percentage of RNs with a bachelor’s degree corresponded to lower incidence rates of pressure ulcers in Korean LTC facilities. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence patient safety activities of the RNs and NAs working in LTC facilities and to identify the relationship between patient safety culture (PSC) and patient safety activities.

Methods

This study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study participants were conveniently collected from 88 RNs and 71 NAs who worked at 33 LTC facilities for more than three months. The patient safety activities tool was developed by the researchers for residents of LTC facilities based on the tools developed by Park et al. (2012) for hospital nurses and the patient safety goals of the Joint Commission. The questionnaires were collected by email or mobile application and kept confidential. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.

Results

The mean scores of PSC and patient safety activities were 4.03 ± 0.51 points and 4.29 ± 0.49 points out of 5, respectively. There was significant correlation between PSC and patient safety activities (r = .23, p = .004). Factors influencing patient safety activities among RNs and NAs in LTC facilities were RNs (β = .377, p < .001), organizational system of PSC (β = .314, p < .010), and work shift type (fixed night shift, on-call, 24-h shift) (β = -.264, p = .004), which explained about 36.0% of total variance (F = 5.69, p < .001).

Conclusion

The findings indicate that it is necessary to mandate RNs instead of NAs to enhance residents’ safety in LTC facilities. Additionally, the importance of an organizational safety system and effective working shift types to prevent residents’ safety accidents in LTC facilities is indicated.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03234-w.

'The Primacy of 'Home': An exploration of how older adults' transition to life in a care home towards the end of the first year

This grounded theory study sought to explore how older adults' experience the transition from living at home to a care home with a specific focus on the latter part of the first year of the move. The study was carried out within a large Health Trust in the UK between August 2017 and May 2019. Purposive sampling was used in the initial stages of data collection. Thereafter and consistent with grounded theory methodology, theoretical sampling was employed to undertake semi-structured interviews with 17 individuals from eight care homes between 5 and 12 months after the move. This paper reports five key categories which were: (a) The lasting effect of first Impressions 'They helped me make my mind up' (b) On a Journey 'I just take it one day at a time', (c) Staying connected and feeling 'at home' 'You get something good out of it you know…you get hope'. (d) Managing loss and grief 'It was important for me to say cheerio to the house' and (e) Caring relationships 'I didn't realise that I was lonely until I had company'. Together these five categories formed the basis of the core category 'The Primacy of 'Home' which participants identified as a place they would like to feel valued, nurtured and have a sense of belonging. This study identifies that it is important for individual preferences and expectations to be managed from the outset of the move. Individuals and families need to be supported to have honest and caring conversations to promote acceptance and adaptation to living in a care home while continuing to embrace the heart of 'home'. Key recommendations from this study include the need to raise awareness of the significance of the ongoing psychological and emotional well-being needs of older people which should be considered in policy directives and clinical practice.

Identifying Frequently Used NANDA-I Nursing Diagnoses, NOC Outcomes, NIC Interventions, and NNN Linkages for Nursing Home Residents in Korea

This study aimed to identify the terminologies of NANDA-I, NOC, NIC, and NNN linkages that have been used for nursing home (NH) residents. This study used a retrospective descriptive design. Data accrued from 57 registered nurses (RNs) in 25 Korean NHs. The RNs randomly selected one resident and assessed for applied NANDA-I, NOC, and NIC from the previous 7 days by reviewing nursing charts and records. Finally, the data of 57 residents in 25 NHs were collected. Results: We identified seven NNN linkages: risk for falls-fall prevention behavior-fall prevention; self-care deficit: bathing/hygiene-self-care: activities of daily living (ADL)-self-care assistance: bathing/hygiene; impaired memory-memory-cognitive stimulation; chronic confusion-neurological status: consciousness-medication management; chronic confusion-memory-medication management; impaired walking-mobility-exercise promotion: strength training; and impaired walking-ambulation-exercise promotion: strength training. The identified core NANDA-I, NOC, NIC, and NNN linkages for NH residents from this study provide a scope of practice of RNs working in NHs.

Individual and organizational factors of nurses' job satisfaction in long-term care: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

In long-term care facilities, nurses' job satisfaction predicts staff turnover, which adversely affects resident outcomes. Thus, it is important to develop a comprehensive understanding of factors affecting nurses' job satisfaction in long-term care facilities.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze factors associated with job satisfaction among nurses in nursing homes from individual and organizational perspectives utilizing a deductive approach.

DESIGN

Systematic literature review SETTING: Nursing homes.

PARTICIPANTS

Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in nursing homes.

METHODS

A systematic literature review of seven online databases (EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to July 23, 2020 was conducted. Studies were included if they examined factors associated job satisfaction in the target population and setting. Decision rules on how to determine factors important to nurse job satisfaction were developed a priori. Two team members independently screened the publications for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed included publications for methodological quality; conflicts were resolved through a consensus process and consultation of the third senior team member when needed.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies were included. Of these, 20 studies were quantitative, 6 were qualitative, and 2 were mixed methods. Factors associated with job satisfaction were grouped into two categories: individual and organizational. Individual factors significantly associated with job satisfaction were age, health status, self-determination/autonomy, psychological empowerment, job involvement, work exhaustion, and work stress. Individual factors identified as not important or equivocal were gender and experience as a nurse/in aged care. No organizational factors were identified as important for nurses' job satisfaction. Facility ownership, supervisor/manager support, resources, staffing level, and social relationships were identified as equivocal or not important. Findings from qualitative studies identified relationship with residents as an important factor for job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS

Factors identified as important to nurses' job satisfaction differ from those reported among care aides in nursing homes and nurses employed in acute care settings, suggesting that there is a need for unique approaches to enhance nurses' job satisfaction in nursing homes.

The Current Status of the Administrative Dispositions of Nurses: A Nationwide Survey in South Korea

BACKGROUND

In South Korea, the professional role of nurse has been redefined from "assistant to" to "partner of" doctors as part of an overall national health promotion strategy.

PURPOSE

This descriptive survey was designed to describe the current status of administrative dispositions related to nurses in South Korea.

METHODS

Data were collected between January 2014 and December 2018. The raw data were obtained from 3,553 public health centers nationwide after a request for the disclosure of information related to the administrative disposition of nurses in each city and province. The data included details on administrative dispositions, laws related to administrative dispositions, violations, and standards for administrative dispositions.

RESULTS

Most of the nurses affected by administrative dispositions worked for primary and secondary healthcare providers. The most common type of administrative disposition was license suspension (n = 66, 80.5%), and most violations for administrative disposition involved unlicensed medical practice (n = 38, 46.3%). Nurses who had more-specific standards provided as evidence of the disposition faced longer periods of license suspension (p = .035).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Nurses should avoid providing nursing care to patients that is not in compliance with medical laws because the administrative action may vary depending on the violation and the severity of their legal infractions. This study was the first to examine administrative actions specifically affecting nurses in South Korea. The administrative actions of medical personnel were found to depend on the number and degree of violations. Nurses must understand the details of nurse-related administrative dispositions to avoid violating medical laws.

Does Public Reporting of Staffing Ratios and Nursing Home Compare Ratings Matter?

OBJECTIVE

Public reporting is a policy to improve quality and increase data transparency. The objective was to examine the association between publicly available staffing ratios and the Five-Star Quality Ratings from Nursing Home Compare over time.

DESIGN

Panel data analysis.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

About 146 nursing homes with complete quarterly data in New Jersey between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2019.

METHODS

Using data from the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Nursing Home Compare, staff-to-resident ratios were trended for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants by shift and over time. Panel data analysis was used to test the association between the ratios and the ratings.

RESULTS

Compared to 2012, staffing ratios improved slightly for licensed practical nurses but not for registered nurses or certified nursing assistants in 2019 (P < .001). The number of residents assigned doubled at night for all personnel. During the day and evening shifts, registered nurse staffing was significantly associated with the Nursing Home Compare staffing rating (P < .01) but not the overall rating.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Decreasing the number of residents assigned to a registered nurse in NHs results in an increase in staffing ratings. Mandatory public reporting holds nursing homes accountable for quality outcomes but does not improve staffing ratios. Quality resident care is the cumulative result of multiple measures inclusive of staffing; therefore, administrators should continue to focus on improving quality in NHs, which may improve staffing ratios across shifts.

A systematic review of the association between nursing staff and nursing-sensitive outcomes in long-term institutional care

AIMS

To examine the association between type of nursing staff and nursing-sensitive outcomes in long-term institutional care.

DESIGN

This systematic review included studies published in English, German, and Dutch between January 1997 and January 2020.

DATA SOURCES

The databases Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched. Original quantitative studies were included.

REVIEW METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used to critically appraise the reporting of the studies.

RESULTS

Fifteen articles were included. Of 33 quality of care outcomes, 21 were identified as nursing-sensitive outcomes of which 13 showed a significant association with nursing staff, specifically: Activities of daily living, aggressive behavior, bladder/bowel incontinence, contractures, expressive language skills, falls, infection (including vaccination), range of motion, pain, pressure ulcers, and weight loss. However, studies reported inconsistent results regarding the association among RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and HCAs and these nursing-sensitive outcomes, evidence shows that more RNs have a positive impact on nursing-sensitive outcomes. As to the evidence regarding the other type of nursing staff, especially HCA, findings regularly showed a negative association.

CONCLUSION

Future research should be expanded with structure and process variables of which the mediating and moderating effect on nursing-sensitive outcomes is known. These may explain variances in quality of care and guide quality improvement initiatives. Researchers should consider fully applying Donabedian's structure-process-outcomes framework as it is a coherent entirety for quality assessment.

IMPACT

This review provides an overview of quality of care outcomes that are responsive to nursing interventions in long-term institutional care. As the effects can be monitored and documented, quality assessment should focus on these nursing-sensitive outcomes. The inconclusive results make it difficult to provide recommendations on who should best perform which care.

Increasing Registered Nurse Hours Per Resident Day for Improved Nursing Home Residents' Outcomes Using a Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this study was to estimate how much resident outcomes can improve with an increase in hours per resident day (HPRD) of registered nurses (RNs) staffing. Nursing home (NH) staff in Korea have serious problems with inappropriate nurse staffing standards and poor working conditions, which lead to poor quality of care for NH residents. This study used a longitudinal survey design. A quota sampling was used with a total of several repeated survey measurement from 2017 to 2020 (n = 74). The independent variable was the amount of nurse staffing HPRD and the outcome variable was the compiled outcome of 15 quality-of-care indicators. Data were directly collected from all participating NHs. A longitudinal, multilevel model was used for analysis. An increase of one unit of RN HPRD (60 min) corresponded to a decrease of about 10.5% of residents with deteriorated quality of care outcomes. This study emphasized that increasing RN HPRD decreased residents’ deteriorated outcomes in NHs. This suggests that professional RNs must be secured to an appropriate level to improve the quality of care for NH residents.

Nursing Staff Time and Care Quality in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In long-term care (LTC) facilities, nursing staff are important contributors to resident care and well-being. Despite this, the relationships between nursing staff coverage, care hours, and quality of resident care in LTC facilities are not well understood and have implications for policy-makers. This systematic review summarizes current evidence on the relationship between nursing staff coverage, care hours, and quality of resident care in LTC facilities.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A structured literature search was conducted using four bibliographic databases and gray literature sources. Abstracts were screened by two independent reviewers using Covidence software. Data from the included studies were summarized using a pretested extraction form. The studies were critically appraised, and their results were synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

The systematic searched yielded 15,842 citations, of which 54 studies (all observational) were included for synthesis. Most studies (n = 53, 98%) investigated the effect of nursing staff time on resident care. Eleven studies addressed minimum care hours and quality of care. One study examined the association between different nursing staff coverage models and resident outcomes. Overall, the quality of the included studies was poor.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Because the evidence was inconsistent and of low quality, there is uncertainty about the direction and magnitude of the association between nursing staff time and type of coverage on quality of care. More rigorously designed studies are needed to test the effects of different cutoffs of care hours and different nursing coverage models on the quality of resident care in LTC facilities.

Application of Machine Learning Methods in Nursing Home Research

Background: A machine learning (ML) system is able to construct algorithms to continue improving predictions and generate automated knowledge through data-driven predictors or decisions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare six ML methods (random forest (RF), logistics regression, linear support vector machine (SVM), polynomial SVM, radial SVM, and sigmoid SVM) of predicting falls in nursing homes (NHs). Methods: We applied three representative six-ML algorithms to the preprocessed dataset to develop a prediction model (N = 60). We used an accuracy measure to evaluate prediction models. Results: RF was the most accurate model (0.883), followed by the logistic regression model, SVM linear, and polynomial SVM (0.867). Conclusions: RF was a powerful algorithm to discern predictors of falls in NHs. For effective fall management, researchers should consider organizational characteristics as well as personal factors. Recommendations for Future Research: To confirm the superiority of ML in NH research, future studies are required to discern additional potential factors using newly introduced ML methods.

The use of physical restraints in Chinese long-term care facilities and its risk factors: An observational and cross-sectional study

AIM

To investigate the use of physical restraints among Chinese long-term care facilities older adults and to identify its risk factors.

DESIGN

Observational and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A total of 1,026 older adults from six long-term care facilities in Chongqing were recruited by cluster sampling method from July - November 2019. Data on physical restraint use and older adults' characteristics were collected using physical restraints observation forms and older adults' records. Organizational data were collected by questionnaires asking nursing managers. The independent risk factors for physical restraints use were assessed using chi-square test and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The study found that the prevalence of physical restraints in six long-term care facilities in China was 25.83%. Waist belt (55.47%) and wrist restraint (52.83%) were most frequently used. Only 61.51% of physical restraints were signed with informed consent. 71.70% of physical restraints were caused by the prevention of falls, 89.06% of physical restraints were without nursing documentation, and 13.58% restrained older adults were observed to have physical complications. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, facility type and ownership, older adults per nursing assistant, length of residence, cognitive impairment, care dependency, mobility restriction, fall risk, physical agitation, and indwelling tubes emerged as important risk factors for the use of physical restraints.

CONCLUSION

The use of physical restraints among Chinese long-term care facilities older adults was at a relatively high level and lack standardized and regulated practices. Moreover, Physical restraint use was associated with facility type and ownership, older adults per nursing assistant, length of residence, cognitive impairment, care dependency, mobility restriction, fall risks, physical agitation, and indwelling tube.

IMPACT

This study will provide an effective reference for nursing staff in long-term care facilities to assess high-risk older adults in their use of physical restraints, which can support them to implement effective minimized restraint approaches to targeted people.

Mind the gaps: age and cause specific mortality and life expectancy in the older population of South Korea and Japan

BACKGROUND

Recent life expectancy gains in high-income Asia-pacific countries have been largely the result of postponement of death from non-communicable diseases in old age, causing rapid demographic ageing. This study compared and quantified age- and cause-specific contributions to changes in old-age life expectancy in two high-income Asia-pacific countries with ageing populations, South Korea and Japan.

METHODS

This study used Pollard's actuarial method of decomposing life expectancy to compare age- and cause-specific contributions to changes in old-age life expectancy between South Korea and Japan during 1997 and 2017.

RESULTS

South Korea experienced rapid population ageing, and the gaps in life expectancy at 60 years old between South Korea and Japan were reduced by 2.47 years during 1997 and 2017. Decomposition analysis showed that mortality reductions from non-communicable diseases in South Korea were the leading causes of death contributing to the decreased gaps in old-age life expectancy between the two countries. More specifically, mortality reductions from cardiovascular diseases (stroke, ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease) and cancers (stomach, liver, lung, pancreatic cancers) in South Korea contributed to the decreased gap by 1.34 and 0.41 years, respectively. However, increased mortality from Alzheimer and dementia, lower respiratory tract disease, self-harm and falls in South Korea widened the gaps by 0.41 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Age- and cause- specific contributions to changes in old-age life expectancy can differ between high-income Asia-pacific countries. Although the gaps in old-age life expectancy between high-income Asia-pacific countries are primarily attributed to mortality changes in non-communicable diseases, these countries should also identify potential emerging threats of communicable diseases and injuries along with demographic ageing in pursuit of healthy life years in old age.

Factors Relating to the Quality of Care for Nursing Home Residents in Korea: Using the Delphi Method

PURPOSE

This study identified factors related to the quality of care in nursing homes, and elicited consensus opinions from experts on nursing homes.

METHODS

A Delphi questionnaire was developed based on a review of the literature using the keywords "nursing homes," "workforce," and "quality of care." A total of two Delphi surveys were conducted with 14 experts. The important and urgent factors related to the quality of care for nursing home residents emerged.

RESULTS

A consensus was achieved on the important and urgent factors relating to the quality of care. The related factors were grouped into four sections: Organizational Characteristics, Staffing Characteristics, the Long-Term Care Market and Legal and Policy Issues, and Nursing Processes. In total, 23 items were important factors and 26 items were urgent factors relating to the quality of care. In addition, the unanimous advocacy by the experts for increased hours per resident day for registered nurses (RNs, 41 minutes 59 seconds) was much higher than the current hours per resident day of RNs in Korea.

CONCLUSION

To provide optimal care for residents in nursing homes in Korea, the mandatory and essential placement of RNs with professional knowledge and skills is paramount.

Nursing Staff Characteristics on Resident Outcomes in Nursing Homes

Background:

The outlook of administrative staff and registered nurses (RNs) plays a critical role in the management of nursing homes. No previous study has compared the outcomes of nursing homes with RNs on staff with those of nursing homes without RNs on staff in Korea.

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nurse-led nursing homes, staff turnover, and resident outcomes in nursing homes in Korea.

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional design, 36 nursing homes with 30 or more beds participated. Primary data included 15 quality indicators.

Results:

Nursing homes with RNs had statistically significant better resident outcomes. RN turnover related positively to the prevalence of falls ( β = 1.68, p < .05) and tube feeding (β = 1.71, p < .01) and negatively to incontinence (β = −1.53, p < .01). Nursing homes with RNs with tenures greater than 1 year had statistically significant lower prevalence of falls (β = −0.47, p < .05), incontinence (β = −0.45, p < .05), weight loss (β = −0.53 p < .05), and bed rest (β = −0.54, p < .01) and increased range of motion (β = 0.51, p < .05). Interestingly, having a nurse as a director for more than 1 year related negatively to the incidence of urinary tract infection (β = −0.56, p < .05) in residents. The rate of RN turnover was found to impact fall prevalence (β = 1.68, p < .05) and tube feeding (β = 1.71, p < .01) positively and to impact incontinence (β = −1.53, p < .01) negatively.

Conclusions:

Turnover of nursing home staff and length of tenure may contribute to the more effective management of nursing homes, higher-quality long-term care insurance, and RN-staffing-related laws. Assessing staff characteristics and the tenure of employees promotes the effective management of nursing homes.

Small is beautiful? Explaining resident satisfaction in Swedish nursing home care

BACKGROUND

Resident satisfaction is an important aspect of nursing home quality. Despite this, few studies have systematically investigated what aspects of nursing home care are most strongly associated with satisfaction. In Sweden, a large number of processual and structural measures are collected to describe the quality of nursing home care, though the impact of these measures on outcomes including resident satisfaction is poorly understood.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of data collected in two nationally representative surveys of Swedish eldercare quality using multi-level models to account for geographic differences.

RESULTS

Of the factors examined, nursing home size was found to be the most important predictor of resident satisfaction, followed by the amount of exercise and activities offered by the nursing home. Measures of individualized care processes, ownership status, staffing ratios, and staff education levels were also weakly associated with resident satisfaction. Contrary to previous research, we found no clear differences between processual and structural variables in terms of their association with resident satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that of the investigated aspects of nursing home care, the size of the nursing home and the amount activities offered to residents were the strongest predictors of satisfaction. Investigation of the mechanisms behind the higher levels of satisfaction found at smaller nursing homes may be a fruitful avenue for further research.

Function-focused care programme for older people in Korean long-term care facilities

PURPOSE

This study aimed to develop and test the effect of the Korean Function-Focused Care Programme (K-FFCP) on cognition and physical and psychological status in long-term care facilities' (LTCs) residents.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental repeated-measures design was used.

METHODS

The K-FFCP was developed to maintain and maximise functions of older people in LTCs. After implementing the K-FFCP for six weeks, differences in the cognitive status, activities of daily living (ADL) performance, physical capability, grip strength, fear of falling, depression and anxiety status of the two groups were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Patient outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after the intervention.

RESULTS

In the experimental group, a significant group-time interaction effect was reported for ADL performance and depression.

CONCLUSION

The current findings provided evidence of its feasibility and indicated significant improvement in older people's functions using the K-FFCP. Although this study is a pilot test, these results may confirm the importance of the K-FFCP for the maintenance of ADL performance in older people in LTCs.

Public Reporting on the Quality Ratings of Nursing Homes in the Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND

Quality ratings could provide vital information to help people in choosing a nursing home.

PURPOSE

This study investigated factors aligned with quality ratings of nursing homes.

METHODS

We employed a cross-sectional descriptive design to assess publicly available data on 1,354 nursing homes with 30 or more beds in the Republic of Korea. After excluding 289 nursing homes with no reported quality-evaluation ratings, we analyzed the 2015 data of 1,065 nursing homes. To prevent multicollinearity among independent variables, we carefully selected the final set of variables based on clinical and theoretical meaningfulness to direct nursing care. Quality, the ordinal outcome, was scored from 1 to 5 with a higher score indicating higher quality of the organization. We constructed a multivariate ordered logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Higher quality ratings of nursing homes was significantly related to the number of unoccupied beds (OR=0.99, p=.024), registered nurses (RNs) (OR=1.30, p=.003), qualified care workers (OR=1.03, p=.011), cognitive-improvement programs (OR=1.05, p=.024), and other programs for residents' activities (OR=1.09, p<.001).

CONCLUSION

The number of RNs had the strongest influence on the publicly reported quality rating, while the rating of qualified care workers demonstrated little effect and that of nursing assistants had no effect. The number of RNs could be used as a crucial indicator for high-quality homes; more resident-engaging programs also demonstrated better quality of nursing home care.

Identifying Potentially Avoidable Emergency Department Visits of Long-Term Care Hospital Residents in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

The aims of this study were to investigate the reasons of transfers from long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) to emergency departments (EDs) of university hospitals in geriatric patients and to categorize the avoidable causes of these transfers. This retrospective multicenter study involved patients aged 65 years and older who were transferred from LTCHs to 5 EDs of university hospitals located in the metropolitan area of South Korea between January 2017 and December 2017. The expert panel reviewed and categorized the reason of transfers as avoidable or not. Moreover, we also investigated the number of patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) documents and the date these DNR documents were written. A total of 255,543 patients visited 5 EDs during the study period. Of these, 1,131 patients were from LTCHs. The number of potentially avoidable transfers was 168/1,131 (14.9%). The most common reason of avoidable transfers was noncritical diagnoses that could be assessed and managed in LTCHs (57.1%). There were 162 patients with DNR orders; of these, 12 had approved the DNR order before transfer. In conclusion, in Korea, potentially avoidable transfers could be reduced by managing noncritical diseases in LTCH and preparing advance care directives, including DNR orders, during admission to LTCH.

Innovation to enhance health in care homes and evaluation of tools for measuring outcomes of care: rapid evidence synthesis

Background

Flexible, integrated models of service delivery are being developed to meet the changing demands of an ageing population. To underpin the spread of innovative models of care across the NHS, summaries of the current research evidence are needed. This report focuses exclusively on care homes and reviews work in four specific areas, identified as key enablers for the NHS England vanguard programme.

Aim

To conduct a rapid synthesis of evidence relating to enhancing health in care homes across four key areas: technology, communication and engagement, workforce and evaluation.

Objectives

(1) To map the published literature on the uses, benefits and challenges of technology in care homes; flexible and innovative uses of the nursing and support workforce to benefit resident care; communication and engagement between care homes, communities and health-related organisations; and approaches to the evaluation of new models of care in care homes. (2) To conduct rapid, systematic syntheses of evidence to answer the following questions. Which technologies have a positive impact on resident health and well-being? How should care homes and the NHS communicate to enhance resident, family and staff outcomes and experiences? Which measurement tools have been validated for use in UK care homes? What is the evidence that staffing levels (i.e. ratio of registered nurses and support staff to residents or different levels of support staff) influence resident outcomes?

Data sources

Searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Science Citation Index, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects) and Index to Theses. Grey literature was sought via Google™ (Mountain View, CA, USA) and websites relevant to each individual search.

Design

Mapping review and rapid, systematic evidence syntheses.

Setting

Care homes with and without nursing in high-income countries.

Review methods

Published literature was mapped to a bespoke framework, and four linked rapid critical reviews of the available evidence were undertaken using systematic methods. Data were not suitable for meta-analysis, and are presented in narrative syntheses.

Results

Seven hundred and sixty-one studies were mapped across the four topic areas, and 65 studies were included in systematic rapid reviews. This work identified a paucity of large, high-quality research studies, particularly from the UK. The key findings include the following. (1) Technology: some of the most promising interventions appear to be games that promote physical activity and enhance mental health and well-being. (2) Communication and engagement: structured communication tools have been shown to enhance communication with health services and resident outcomes in US studies. No robust evidence was identified on care home engagement with communities. (3) Evaluation: 6 of the 65 measurement tools identified had been validated for use in UK care homes, two of which provide general assessments of care. The methodological quality of all six tools was assessed as poor. (4) Workforce: joint working within and beyond the care home and initiatives that focus on staff taking on new but specific care tasks appear to be associated with enhanced outcomes. Evidence for staff taking on traditional nursing tasks without qualification is limited, but promising.

Limitations

This review was restricted to English-language publications after the year 2000. The rapid methodology has facilitated a broad review in a short time period, but the possibility of omissions and errors cannot be excluded.

Conclusions

This review provides limited evidential support for some of the innovations in the NHS vanguard programme, and identifies key issues and gaps for future research and evaluation.

Future work

Future work should provide high-quality evidence, in particular experimental studies, economic evaluations and research sensitive to the UK context.

Study registration

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016052933, CRD42016052933, CRD42016052937 and CRD42016052938.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Development and Validation of the Nursing Home Care-related Quality of Life Scale

OBJECTIVES

We developed an instrument to assess nursing home residents' quality of life (QOL), with a focus on QOL-related factors modifiable through nursing home care, within the South Korean context; then, we tested its validity and reliability.

DESIGN

The scale was constructed through a literature review, qualitative interviews, expert panel review, and a focus group interview; then, it was validated through survey research.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Residents (N = 667) from 42 nursing homes in South Korea participated in scale validation.

METHODS

Ninety-nine items across 5 dimensions were initially drafted through a literature review and qualitative interview data. The expert panel review and a focus group interview yielded a scale with 31 items across 3 dimensions. Next, using survey data from nursing home residents, we examined the construct and concurrent validity and reliability (using Kuder-Richardson 20) of the 31-item QOL scale.

RESULTS

Through a series of factor analyses, the 31 items were reduced to 17 items across 2 dimensions: Environment and Services (13 items) and Social Interaction (4 items). This 17-item scale was further examined for model fitness and reliability. The scale had acceptable to good fit (root mean square error of approximation = 0.07 and 0.07; comparative fit index = 0.83 and 0.98 for Environment and Services and Social Interaction, respectively), and good concurrent validity and internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson 20 = 0.72).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This 17-item scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess nursing home residents' QOL in South Korea, with a focus on factors modifiable through nursing home care. Through more research to test its usefulness, validity, and reliability, the scale can be used as an index of nursing home care quality and contribute to the development of strategies to improve nursing home residents' QOL.

Staff mix and nursing home quality by level of case mix in Korea

AIM

The purpose of the present study was to identify the relationship between staff mix in nursing homes and quality of care by level of case mix in Korea.

METHODS

Data used in the present study came from Long-Term Care Insurance claims data with basic information of nursing homes with >29 beds (n = 1137) and quality evaluation reports. Staff mix was calculated as the number of nursing staff, social workers and care workers per total staff number.

RESULTS

In multinomial logistic regression analyses, institutions with a higher ratio of social workers were classified as top-quality class institutes after controlling ownership, location, size and percentage of high level of care needs residents. In analyzing the higher case mix nursing homes, institutions with a high ratio of nursing staff and social workers were more likely to be classified as top-quality class than the lowest class institutions. However, there was no significant association between quality of care and ratio of staff mix in the lower case mix nursing homes.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher staff mix was positively related to nursing home quality of care, but the relationship was affected by case mix of residents' care demand. Therefore, the current minimum staffing standard for personnel in nursing homes should be modified considering the acuity of the residents. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 438-443.

Process, structural, and outcome quality indicators of nutritional care in nursing homes: a systematic review

Background

The quality of nursing homes (NHs) has attracted a lot of interest in recent years and is one of the most challenging issues for policy-makers. Nutritional care should be considered an important variable to be measured from the perspective of quality management. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the use of structural, process, and outcome indicators of nutritional care in NHs and the relationship among them.

Methods

The literature search was carried out in Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. A temporal filter was applied in order to select papers published in the last 10 years. All types of studies were included, with the exception of reviews, conference proceedings, editorials, and letters to the editor. Papers published in languages other than English, Italian, and Spanish were excluded.

Results

From the database search, 1063 potentially relevant studies were obtained. Of these, 19 full-text articles were considered eligible for the final synthesis. Most of the studies adopted an observational cross-sectional design. They generally assessed the quality of nutritional care using several indicators, usually including a mixture of many different structural, process, and outcome indicators. Only one of the 19 studies described the quality of care by comparing the results with the threshold values. Nine papers assessed the relationship between indicators and six of them described some significant associations—in the NHs that have a policy related to nutritional risk assessment or a suitable scale to weigh the residents, the prevalence or risk of malnutrition is lower. Finally, only four papers of these nine included risk adjustment. This could limit the comparability of the results.

Conclusion

Our findings show that a consensus must be reached for defining a set of indicators and standards to improve quality in NHs. Establishing the relationship between structural, process, and outcome indicators is a challenge. There are grounds for investigating this theme by means of prospective longitudinal studies that take the risk adjustment into account.

Associations Among Health Care Workplace Safety, Resident Satisfaction, and Quality of Care in Long-Term Care Facilities

OBJECTIVE

We performed an integrated cross-sectional analysis of relationships between long-term care work environments, employee and resident satisfaction, and quality of patient care.

METHODS

Facility-level data came from a network of 203 skilled nursing facilities in 13 states in the eastern United States owned or managed by one company. K-means cluster analysis was applied to investigate clustered associations between safe resident handling program (SRHP) performance, resident care outcomes, employee satisfaction, rates of workers' compensation claims, and resident satisfaction.

RESULTS

Facilities in the better-performing cluster were found to have better patient care outcomes and resident satisfaction; lower rates of workers compensation claims; better SRHP performance; higher employee retention; and greater worker job satisfaction and engagement.

CONCLUSION

The observed clustered relationships support the utility of integrated performance assessment in long-term care facilities.

Factors Related to Healthcare Service Quality in Long-term Care Hospitals in South Korea: A Mixed-methods Study

Objectives

The environment of long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) is critical to the management of the quality of their services and to patient safety, as highlighted by international studies. However, there is a lack of evidence on this topic in South Korea. This study aimed to examine the factors affecting healthcare quality in LTCHs and to explore the effectiveness of their quality management.

Methods

This study used a mixed methods approach with quantitative data collected in a national survey and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with practice-based managers. The samples included 725 nationally representative LTCHs in South Korea for the quantitative analysis and 15 administrators for the in-depth interviews.

Results

A higher installation rate of patient-safety and hygiene-related facilities and staff with longer-tenures, especially nurses, were more likely to have better healthcare quality and education for both employees and patients.

Conclusion

The need for patient-safety- and hygiene-related facilities in LTCHs that serve older adults reflects their vulnerability to certain adverse events (e.g., infections). Consistent and skillful nursing care to improve the quality of LTCHs can be achieved by developing relevant educational programs for staff and patients, thereby strengthening the relationships between them.

Applying of Decision Tree Analysis to Risk Factors Associated with Pressure Ulcers in Long-Term Care Facilities

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to use decision tree analysis to explore the factors associated with pressure ulcers (PUs) among elderly people admitted to Korean long-term care facilities.

METHODS

The data were extracted from the 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS)-data of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). A MapReduce-based program was implemented to join and filter 5 tables of the NIS. The outcome predicted by the decision tree model was the prevalence of PUs as defined by the Korean Standard Classification of Disease-7 (KCD-7; code L89^*). Using R 3.3.1, a decision tree was generated with the finalized 15,856 cases and 830 variables.

RESULTS

The decision tree displayed 15 subgroups with 8 variables showing 0.804 accuracy, 0.820 sensitivity, and 0.787 specificity. The most significant primary predictor of PUs was length of stay less than 0.5 day. Other predictors were the presence of an infectious wound dressing, followed by having diagnoses numbering less than 3.5 and the presence of a simple dressing. Among diagnoses, "injuries to the hip and thigh" was the top predictor ranking 5th overall. Total hospital cost exceeding 2,200,000 Korean won (US $2,000) rounded out the top 7.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support previous studies that showed length of stay, comorbidity, and total hospital cost were associated with PUs. Moreover, wound dressings were commonly used to treat PUs. They also show that machine learning, such as a decision tree, could effectively predict PUs using big data.