Estes Carroll L, Zulman Donna M, Goldberg Sheryl C, Ogawa Dawn D
Institute of Health & Aging at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA.
Gerontologist. 2004 Feb;44(1):104-15. doi: 10.1093/geront/44.1.104.
This article reports findings from a nationwide study on factors associated with the perceived effectiveness of state Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOPs).
Researchers conducted telephone interviews with ombudsmen from the 50 state programs as well as from Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Data from the National Ombudsman Reporting System were incorporated into the study, and statistical tests analyze associations between self-rated program effectiveness and adequacy of resources, organizational placement-autonomy, interorganizational relationships, and other variables.
Several factors limit the perceived effectiveness of state LTCOPs, including insufficient funding and insufficient LTCOP autonomy caused by organizational placement. Despite these problem areas, state ombudsmen report that their programs meet statutorily mandated requirements with varying degrees of effectiveness. Findings show significant positive associations between program funding and paid and volunteer staff levels and between the ratio of long-term care beds per ombudsman and the percentage of nursing facilities visited. Sufficient funding is positively associated with perceived effectiveness of work with nursing facilities.
Sufficient resources, sufficient organizational autonomy, and a supportive political and social environment are key elements in achieving varying types of perceived effectiveness in the state LTCOPs. Research is needed to extend this work to local ombudsman programs and to compare self-rated effectiveness with other outcome measures.
本文报告了一项关于与州长期护理监察员计划（LTCOPs）感知有效性相关因素的全国性研究结果。
研究人员对来自50个州计划以及华盛顿特区和波多黎各的监察员进行了电话访谈。来自国家监察员报告系统的数据被纳入研究，统计测试分析了自评计划有效性与资源充足性、组织定位 - 自主性、组织间关系及其他变量之间的关联。
若干因素限制了州LTCOPs的感知有效性，包括资金不足以及因组织定位导致的LTCOP自主性不足。尽管存在这些问题领域，但州监察员报告称他们的计划在不同程度上有效地满足了法定要求。研究结果表明，计划资金与带薪和志愿工作人员水平之间以及每位监察员的长期护理床位比例与走访的护理机构百分比之间存在显著的正相关。充足的资金与在护理机构工作的感知有效性呈正相关。
充足的资源、充足的组织自主性以及支持性的政治和社会环境是在州LTCOPs中实现不同类型感知有效性的关键要素。需要开展研究将这项工作扩展到地方监察员计划，并将自评有效性与其他结果指标进行比较。
