Training and Support Programme on Data-driven Quality Development for Swiss Long-Term Care Facilities (NIP-Q-UPGRADE Subaim 2.6)

Summary

Since 2019, long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Switzerland have been required by the Federal Insurance Law (KVG, Art. 59a) to report data for the calculation and public reporting of medical quality indicators (MQIs) in four clinical domains: polypharmacy, pain, malnutrition, and physical restraints. This data serves both for monitoring care quality at the national level through public reporting and for internal quality development. Contextual analysis showed that various quality development methods are already known and used in Swiss LTCFs. However, significant challenges remain: limited resources, time constraints, and restricted access to MQI data hinder effective use. Facilities reported a greater need for support in using MQI data. They also expressed interest in peer networking, structured support for applying quality methods (such as Plan Do Check Act cycles (PDCA)), and practical tools such as training, best-practice examples, and additional resources. Residents and relatives also expressed a strong interest in being more involved in decision-making and care quality discussions.

The overall aim of the current study is to test a quality development training programme that supports LTCFs in using MQI data for continuous data-driven care quality development.

The study is structured into three thematic areas:

1. MQI Results Literacy - Supporting LTCFs in interpreting MQI reports and benchmarks.
2. Impactful Actions - Supporting LTCFs to translate MQI results into concrete quality development actions using PDCA cycles.
3. Sparking Culture - Integrating data-driven quality development into everyday practice and fostering a culture of continuous development, with a strong emphasis on strengthening the involvement of residents, relatives, and leadership.

The study follows a train-the-trainer strategy. Trainers instructed by the NIP-Q-UPGRADE research team provide structured training and coaching to Quality Leaders and management representatives of LTCFs. Quality Leaders then support their co-workers in quality development. The training programme consists of online and in-person trainings, training materials, practical tools, a website, guided tasks for facilities, and an email helpdesk for ongoing support.

Study outcomes: This sub-study of the NIP-Q-UPGRADE programme aims to assess the acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and costs related to the training programme, both at the facility level and at the trainer level.

Conditions

• Training
• Quality of Care
• Quality Indicators, Health Care
• Long Term Care
• Pain Assessment
• Malnutrition in Elderly
• Weight Loss
• Physical Restraints
• Benchmark

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Training and Support Programme on Data-driven Quality Development

The training and support program uses a train-the-trainer strategy. The research team: * develop training and support materials * organize an e-mail helpdesk support * organize and conduct the scientific examination The external training providers: \- train the management representatives and the quality leaders. The quality leader and the manager: * elaborate and test a quality development project based on one MQI with PDCA cycle * animate interprofessional meetings * organize a collective workshop with residents and relatives * engage residents and relatives in individual conversations by testing a brochure

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Basel

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

  collaborator OTHER

• Institut et Haute Ecole de la Santé la Source

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nathalie I.H. Wellens, Prof. Dr. · Institute and School of Nursing La Source, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland

• Franziska Zúñiga, Prof.Dr. · University of Basel

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-21

Primary Completion

2025-06-30

Completion

2025-11-30

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations