Development of a novel benchmark method to identify and characterize best practices in home care across six European countries: design, baseline, and rationale of the IBenC project

TitleDevelopment of a novel benchmark method to identify and characterize best practices in home care across six European countries: design, baseline, and rationale of the IBenC project
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
Authorsvan der Roest HG, van Eenoo L, van Lier LI, Onder G, Garms-Homolova V, Smit JH, Finne-Soveri H, Jónsson PV, Draisma S, Declercq A, Bosmans JE, van Hout HPJ, I. project BC
JournalBMC health services research
Volume19
Issue1
Pagination310-310
Date Published2019/05/15
ISBN Number1472-6963
Accession NumberWOS:000468051700001
Keywords*Activities of Daily Living, *Benchmarking, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Benchmarking, Costs of care utilization, Cross-country comparison, Databases, Factual, Elderly, Europe, Female, health care policy, Health Care Surveys, Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data, home care, Home Care Services/organization & administration/*standards, Humans, Long-Term Care/organization & administration/*standards, Male, quality of care, Quality of Health Care, Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Europe's ageing society leads to an increased demand for long-term care, thereby putting a strain on the sustainability of health care systems. The 'Identifying best practices for care-dependent elderly by Benchmarking Costs and outcomes of Community Care' (IBenC) project aims to develop a new benchmark methodology based on quality of care and cost of care utilization to identify best practices in home care. The study's baseline data, methodology, and rationale are reported. METHODS: Home care organizations in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, and the Netherlands, home care clients of 65 years and over receiving home care, and professionals working in these organizations were included. Client data were collected according to a prospective longitudinal design with the interRAI Home Care instrument. Assessments were performed at baseline, after six and 12 months by trained (research) nurses. Characteristics of home care organizations and professionals were collected cross-sectionally with online surveys. RESULTS: Thirty-eight home care organizations, 2884 home care clients, and 1067 professionals were enrolled. Home care clients were mainly female (66.9%), on average 82.9 years (± 7.3). Extensive support in activities of daily living was needed for 41.6% of the sample, and 17.6% suffered cognitive decline. Care professionals were mainly female (93.4%), and over 45 years (52.8%). Considerable country differences were found. CONCLUSION: A unique, international, comprehensive database is established, containing in-depth information on home care organizations, their clients and staff members. The variety of data enables the development of a novel cost-quality benchmark method, based on interRAI-HC data. This benchmark can be used to explore relevant links between organizational efficiency and organizational and staff characteristics.
DOI10.1186/s12913-019-4109-y
Link

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4109-y
Alternate JournalBMC Health Serv Res