Project Summary

The mandatory collection and reporting of medical quality indicators (MQIs) with the aim of improving quality of care is common practice in long-term care facilities. However, the quality of the data collected and its impact on care improvement remains unknown. This paper presents a programme of research that aims to improve the quality of care in Swiss long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for older adults in collaboration stakeholders at all levels, through strengthening the robustness of the national medical quality indicator (MQIs) data, supporting LTCFs in the utilization of the data for quality improvement, and introducing further quality indicators.

We adopt participatory, mixed-methods approaches that are grounded in implementation science to execute three work packages (WPs) in this large-scale national programme. The first WP aims to improve the quality of MQI data through assessing and refining data flow processes. The second WP aims to support the use of MQI data in quality improvement in line with international best practices. The third WP aims to prepare for, and pilot test, new quality indicators.

The sub-studies proposed in each work package aim to understand current contexts, perceptions, and practices, draw on national and international expertise, experience, and best practices, and develop strategies, practices, and policies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Project Aims

The programme is divided into three work packages to address the programme’s main objectives:

(1) to strengthen the quality and robustness of MQI data collected;

(2) to support LTC facilities in further developing and implementing data-driven care quality improvement; and

(3) to prepare the field for the introduction of additional MQIs.

Project Methods

Five frameworks guide the design of the program and the individual studies.  The NIP-Q-UPGRADE programme is framed by implementation science, the EPIS framework is applied across the overall program, the Consolidate Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) is used in specific studies evaluating the context, intervention mapping will be used in collaboration with working groups with the aim of co-creating the development of interventions and implementation strategies, the Interactive Systems Framework (ISF), is used throughout to control consideration of all systems of the implementation of interventions, the Phases of Scale-up will guide the scale-up of the implementation program.

Stakeholders at all levels are involved, from the federal offices to software providers, to those who are directly and indirectly involved in care, residents themselves, and their family members.

Project Findings / expected Findings

The program will contribute to the diffusion of best practices in Swiss LTCFs and policy development to sustainably improve quality of care and continuous quality improvement. The results will provide data on national quality improvement implementation applicable to a global policy and practice audience.

Outputs / expected Outputs

• Poncin, E., Thuillard, S., Van Grootven, B., Huang, J., Curreri, N., Vittoz, L., Sibilio, S., Benkert, B., Baumann, S., Corna, L., Zúñiga, F., & IH Wellens, N. (2024). Large-scale, data-driven quality improvement strategies in long-term care facilities for older people: Good practices and insights from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11403320
• Poncin, E., de Goumoëns, V., Kiszio, B., Van Grootven, B., Thuillard, S., Benkert, B., Sibilio, S., Huang, J., Curreri, N., Corna, L., Zúñiga, F., & IH Wellens, N. (2024). Evidence on interventions in quality indicators areas, implementation strategies and scale up evaluation. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11093800
• Poncin, E., de Goumoëns, V., Kiszio, B., Van Grootven, B., Huang, J., Curreri, N., Sibilio, S., Zúñiga, F., & IH Wellens, N. (2024). The communication of quality indicators data in residential long-term care: A rapid review. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11093594
• Van Grootven, B., Monticelli, A., Osinska, M., Huang, J., Davies, M., Wellens, N., Corna, L., & Zúñiga, F. (2023). Sub-aim 1.1: Evidence on data quality in long-term care facilities, use of risk adjustment and scale-up strategies. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10118886
• Rüttimann, A., Kästner, L., Curreri, N., Poncin, E., Corna, L., Zúñiga, F., & Van Grootven, B. (2024). Current quality improvement practices in residential long-term care: a protocol for a mixed methods study. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10469515