School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
BMJ Open. 2024 Jul 16;14(7):e087380. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087380.
Improving quality of life has become a priority in the long-term care (LTC) sector internationally. With development and implementation guidance, standardised quality-of-life monitoring tools based on valid, self-report surveys could be used more effectively to benefit LTC residents, families and organisations. This research will explore the potential for subjective quality-of-life indicators in the interRAI Self-Reported Quality of Life Survey for Long-Term Care Facilities (QoL-LTCF).
Guided by the Medical Research Council Framework, this research will entail a (1) modified Delphi study, (2) feasibility study and (3) realist synthesis. In study 1, we will evaluate the importance of statements and scales in the QoL-LTCF by administering Delphi surveys and focus groups to purposively recruited resident and family advisors, researchers, and LTC clinicians, staff, and leadership from international quality improvement organisations. In study 2, we will critically examine the feasibility and implications of risk-adjusting subjective quality-of-life indicators. Specifically, we will collect expert stakeholder perspectives with interviews and apply a risk-adjustment methodology to QoL-LTCF data. In study 3, we will iteratively review and synthesise literature, and consult with expert stakeholders to explore the implementation of quality-of-life indicators.
This study has received approval through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board and the Social and Societal Ethics Committee of KU Leuven. We will disseminate our findings in conferences, journal article publications and presentations for a variety of stakeholders.
提高生活质量已成为国际长期护理（LTC）领域的首要任务。有了发展和实施指导，基于有效、自我报告调查的标准化生活质量监测工具可以更有效地用于造福长期护理居民、家庭和组织。本研究将探讨基于 interRAI 长期护理设施自我报告生活质量调查（QoL-LTCF）的主观生活质量指标的潜力。
本研究将在医学研究委员会框架的指导下，包括（1）改良 Delphi 研究、（2）可行性研究和（3）现实主义综合研究。在研究 1 中，我们将通过德尔菲调查和焦点小组评估 QoL-LTCF 中陈述和量表的重要性，这些小组将有目的地招募居民和家庭顾问、研究人员以及来自国际质量改进组织的长期护理临床医生、工作人员和领导层。在研究 2 中，我们将批判性地审查主观生活质量指标风险调整的可行性和影响。具体来说，我们将通过访谈收集专家利益相关者的观点，并将风险调整方法应用于 QoL-LTCF 数据。在研究 3 中，我们将迭代审查和综合文献，并与专家利益相关者协商，以探讨生活质量指标的实施。
这项研究已经通过滑铁卢大学伦理委员会和鲁汶天主教大学社会和社会伦理委员会的批准。我们将在会议、期刊文章出版物和针对各种利益相关者的演讲中传播我们的发现。
