Content area
Full text
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging Volume 17, Number 2, 2013
A MULTICENTRIC INDIVIDUALLY-TAILORED CONTROLLED TRIALOF EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO NURSING HOME STAFF: RESEARCH PROTOCOL AND BASELINE DATA OF THE IQUARE STUDY
P. de Souto Barreto1,2, M. LaPeyre-MeStre3,4, C. Mathieu5, C. Piau6, C. Bouget6, F. CayLa5, B. VeLLaS1,3, y. roLLand1,3
1. grontople de toulouse, institut du Vieillissement, Centre hospitalo-universitaire de toulouse (Chu toulouse), toulouse; 2. uMr7268 aix-Marseille univ. Laboratoire danthropologie bioculturelle, droit, thique et sant; 3. uMr inSerM 1027, university of toulouse iii; 4. Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Chu de toulouse, 37 allees Jules guesde, F-31000, toulouse, France; 5. observatoire rgional de la Sant de Midi-Pyrnes (orSMiP); 6. agence rgionale de la Sant Midi Pyrnes. Corresponding author: dr. Philipe de Souto Barreto. grontople de toulouse, institut du Vieillissement. 37, alles Jules guesde. 31000 toulouse, France. telephone number: (+33) 561 145 657, Fax: (+33) 561 145 640, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Background: Whilst the number of people living in nursing homes (nh) is expected to rise, research on nh quality is scarce. the purpose of this article is to describe the research protocol of the iQuare study and to present its baseline data. Methods and design: iQuare is a 18-month multicentric individually-tailored controlled trial of education and professional support to nh staff. the main purposes of iQuare are to improve the quality of the health care provided in nhs and to reduce the risk of functional decline among residents. data on internal organisation and residents health for the 175 participating nhs were recorded by nh staff at baseline. nhs were allocated to either a light intervention group (Lig, n = 90 nhs, totalising 3 258 participants) or a strong intervention group (Sig, n = 85 nhs, totalising 3 017 participants). intervention for Lig consisted at delivering to nh staff descriptive statistics on indicators of quality regarding their nh and the nhs from their sub-region of health and region; whereas for Sig, nh staff received the same information that Lig, but quality indicators were discussed by a cooperative work (two half-day meetings) between a hospital geriatrician and nh staff. Strategies for overcoming nhs weaknesses were then traced; the efficacy of strategies is evaluated at a 6-month period. Results: Baseline data showed high levels of dependence,...