Abstract
BackgroundNursing home residents are typically older adults with high levels of chronic illness and impairment. As such, they are particularly susceptible to severe complications and mortality from COVID-19. Since all nursing home residents are at increased risk, nursing home care staff need to know what residents would want to happen should they become infected with COVID-19. This study aims to develop and evaluate advance care planning (ACP) COVID-centric online training and information resources for nursing home staff and family members of residents, to improve care at the end of life during a COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the findings we will develop implementation guidelines for nursing homes to ensure wider impact and application during the pandemic and beyond.MethodsThe content of the training and information resources will be based on a rapid review of literature and guidance on ACP in the context of COVID-19 and consultation with the study expert reference group. An integrated communications company will then work alongside the research team to design the online training and information resources. To evaluate the resources, we will employ a multiple case study design where a nursing home (defined as an institutional setting in which nursing care is provided to older adults on-site 24 h a day) will be the unit of analysis or ‘case’. The RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework will guide the evaluation of implementation of the training and information resources. We will recruit and interview staff and family members from between 6 and 9 nursing homes across Northern Ireland, England and Scotland and gather quantitative data from a feedback survey included in the training and information resources.DiscussionThe Necessary Discussions study is very timely given the challenging experiences of nursing homes, their staff, residents and their family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. It meets a key need and addresses an important gap in research and practice. The training and information resources will be ‘COVID-centric’, but they will also have a longstanding relevance for future ACP practice in UK care homes.Trial registrationISRCTN registry (ID 18003630) on 19.05.21
Highlights
Nursing home residents are typically older adults with high levels of chronic illness and impairment
The Necessary Discussions study is very timely given the challenging experiences of nursing homes, their staff, residents and their family members during the COVID-19 pandemic
The training and information resources will be ‘COVID-centric’, but they will have a longstanding relevance for future advance care planning (ACP) practice in UK care homes
Summary
Nursing home residents are typically older adults with high levels of chronic illness and impairment. This study aims to develop and evaluate advance care planning (ACP) COVID-centric online training and information resources for nursing home staff and family members of residents, to improve care at the end of life during a COVID-19 outbreak. One way of ensuring that care reflects the wishes and preferences of residents, is to develop an advance care plan It is regarded as good practice for advance care plans to be in place at the earliest possible opportunity upon admission to a nursing home, the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden manner of illness and rapid deterioration of nursing home residents, and in some cases death, has amplified the need for documented advance care plans [2, 3]. ACP is viewed as an on-going conversation which should involve the provision of information [5] to patients’ / residents’ and family members’ “... as a means of navigating the uncertainties at the end of life by identifying and supporting patients’ needs and preferences for care.” [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
