Common Assessment Tools Research Articles

Training technical or non-technical skills: an arbitrary distinction? A scoping review

IntroductionMedical education often aims to improve either technical skills (TS) or ‘non-technical skills’ (NTS) and how these skills influence adverse events and patient safety. The two skill sets are often investigated independently, and little is known about how TS and NTS influence each other. In this scoping review, we therefore aim to investigate the association between TS and NTS.MethodWe conducted a scoping review of four databases in order to summarize, analyse, and collate findings from the included studies.ResultsIn total, 203 of 2676 identified studies were included in the final analysis. The first study was published in 1991, but the majority of studies were published in the last decade. The majority were intervention studies including 41 randomized controlled trials. The the objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) was the most common assessment tool with strong validity evidence within TS, but many variations without validity evidence were used. Conversely, Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) was the most used tool with strong validity evidence for assessing NTS. However, the majority of studies used non-validated self-assessment tools to investigate NTS. The correlation between TS and NTS was assessed in 46 of 203 studies, whereof 40 found a positive correlation.DiscussionOur findings echo previous literature suggesting that empirical literature investigating the interaction between TS and NTS lack methodological depth. In this review only a minority of the identified studies (n = 46) investigated this correlation. However, the results strongly indicate a correlation between TS and NTS skills, suggesting that physicians who are proficient in their NTS, also perform well on their TS. Thus, the distinction between them in learning designs may seem arbitrary. While this result is promising, the limited methodological rigour indicates a lack of proper understanding of NTS and how to properly assess them.

Exploring Trismus Management in Australia: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Surveys and Interviews With Health Professionals.

This study evaluates how health care professionals manage trismus in Australia and identifies facilitators and barriers experienced by clinicians in routine patient care. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the experience of clinicians. Medical, nursing, and allied health practitioners in Australia were invited to participate if they had treated patients with trismus in the last 5 years. Participants completed an investigator-designed survey and were invited to participate in a semi-structured audio-recorded interview to explore practice in more depth. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analyzed thematically using an inductive, data-driven approach. Fifty-six clinicians (38 speech pathologists, 9 physiotherapists, 7 medical doctors, 1 nurse, and 1 osteopath) completed the survey, 12 of which also participated in an interview. The most common assessment tool was a commercially available measurement tool (Therabite or Orastretch), the most common treatment approach was stacked tongue depressors, and the most common exercise regimen was a 30- s stretch 25 times per day. Common barriers to trismus management included the high cost of devices, lack of clinical experience, and lack of training opportunities outside their institution. Clinician-perceived facilitators were different modes of information provision and time to consider the exercise instructions and rationale. Several clinicians relied on telehealth to reach patients in remote locations and improve efficiency. A range of clinicians treat trismus arising from a variety of conditions. Training opportunities are critical for clinicians to develop and extend their skills in assessing and treating trismus. The morbidity associated with trismus, and the absence of a clinical guideline or consensus document warrants careful consideration as to the translation of evidence into the clinical context.

Development and validation of the questionnaire of OSCE's educational effects.

One of the most common assessment tools for examining the competencies of health professionals is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). In this study, an Educational Effects of OSCE Questionnaire (EEOQ) was developed and validated in seven steps: (1) Reviewing the literature, (2) Holding focus groups, (3) Synthesizing the results of literature review and focus groups, (4) Developing items, (5) Evaluating content validity, (6) Conducting cognitive interviews, and (7) Implementing a pilot test. The analysis of the literature review and focus groups revealed that the educational effects of OSCE are influenced by factors related to the test, the examiner, the peers, and the student. Initially, 22 items were developed, but one item was excluded based on the results of the I-CVR and I-CVI indices. In the Exploratory Factor Analysis, the KMO index was computed to be 0.85, and the significance of Bartlett's test of sphericity was confirmed (p < 0.001). The Total Variance Explained table showed that the educational effects of OSCE were grouped into four factors: content, structure, reflection and review, and feedback along with OSCE. This study found good evidence of validity and reliability for a questionnaire measuring the educational effects of OSCEs. It was discovered that OSCE can have different effects on student learning processes.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Formative OSCE Combined with Visual Feedback in Improving Clinical Competence among Iranian Nurse Anesthesia Students: A Quasi-experimental study.

Lack of clinical competence can endanger the patient's safety and reduce the quality of providing health care services. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of formative Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) with immediate verbal and visual feedback on the clinical competence of fourth-year nurse anesthesia students. This was a single blind quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design in compliance with the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement. Forty-eight students were allocated to intervention (n=24) and control (n=24) groups. During the academic semester, the students of the intervention group attended 3 sessions of formative OSCE (5 stations) with immediate verbal and visual feedback. In the control group, however, the students received in-person feedback according to curricular routine. The data collection tool included two sections. The first section included a questionnaire to collect demographic information such as age, sex, grade point average and marital status. In the second section, clinical competence of students was measured by Common Clinical Assessment Tool (CCAT). The collected data were analyzed by Analysis of Covariance, paired T-test, Chi-square, and Fischer's exact test in SPSS, version 16. Comparing post-test scores by ANCOVA showed a significant difference between groups (p=0.001) because there was a significant positive change in the overall clinical competence score in the intervention group after receiving formative OSCE. This study showed that regular implementation of formative OSCEs in nurse anesthesia education fosters learning and has a positive effect on improving students' educational behaviors and helps them learn more efficiently. However, it is recommended to conduct more studies with a larger number of participants to confirm this conclusion.

ID: 323364 Clinical Utility of Common Self-Report Pain Intensity Assessment Tools in Pediatric and Adolescent Populations

ID: 323364 Clinical Utility of Common Self-Report Pain Intensity Assessment Tools in Pediatric and Adolescent Populations

Impact of Teachers’ Psychological Well-Being on Usability of Systematic Guidance for Constructing Achievement Test Items

Assessment in education is crucial for revealing student achievement potential and motivating learners. Teacher-made tests, a common assessment tool, must be well-designed and aligned with learning objectives to measure student performance effectively. The Systematic Guidance System (SiPantik) was developed to assist teachers in constructing quality test items. This study evaluates SiPantik's usability and its impact on teachers' psychological well-being. Using the USE Questionnaire, the study investigates how the system's ease of use, usefulness, and satisfaction reduce stress and enhance teachers' sense of competence and control. The findings indicate that SiPantik is perceived as a supportive and efficient tool that positively influences psychological well-being by reducing administrative burdens and making the teaching process more enjoyable. The study underscores the importance of user-centric design in educational tools, as the usability and satisfaction provided by SiPantik are closely linked to improved job satisfaction, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. The positive impact of SiPantik highlights the broader benefits of well-designed systems in fostering a supportive and productive educational environment.

Effects of malnutrition on disease severity and adverse outcomes in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundMalnutrition is common in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease and is associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality. Approximately one-third of patients with heart failure are malnourished. However, the relationship between malnutrition and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic value of malnutrition in patients with IPAH.MethodsA total of 432 consecutive participants with IPAH were included in this study between March 2013 and August 2021. Three common malnutrition assessment tools, including the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, were used to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with IPAH. The relationships between the malnutrition tools and long-term adverse outcomes were determined using restricted cubic splines and multivariate Cox regression models.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 3.1 years, 158 participants experienced clinical worsening or all-cause death. Patients were stratified into the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups based on the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) risk stratification, and the PNI (55.9 ± 5.7 vs. 54.4 ± 7.2 vs. 51.1 ± 7.1, P = 0.005) and CONUT score (2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.5 ± 1.2 vs. 3.3 ± 1.1, P < 0.001) identified these patient groups better than the GNRI. All three malnutrition tools were associated with well-validated variables that reflected IPAH severity, such as the World Health Organization functional class, 6-min walk distance, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level. The CONUT score exhibited better predictive ability than both the GNRI (ΔAUC = 0.059, P < 0.001) and PNI (ΔAUC = 0.095, P < 0.001) for adverse outcomes and significantly improved reclassification and discrimination beyond the ESC risk score. Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that only the CONUT score (hazard ratio = 1.363, 95% confidence interval 1.147, 1.619 per 1.0-standard deviation increment, P < 0.001) independently predicted adverse outcomes.ConclusionsThe malnutrition status was associated with disease severity in patients with IPAH. The CONUT score provided additional information regarding the risk of clinically worsening events, making it a meaningful risk stratification tool for these patients.

Developing a coordinated response to chemsex across health, justice and social care settings: expert consensus statement.

Chemsex occurs primarily among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and there is evidence of a subgroup of users who carry out chemsex-related criminal offences and experience harm. Challenges with chemsex can present to various settings; there are concerns that harm is increasing, including at interfaces between health, social care and criminal justice systems. The UK response to date has lacked a coordinated approach. An expert reference group was convened to share chemsex knowledge, articulate priorities for research and pathway development, and foster collaborative working between agencies. It made three key recommendations: develop and increase training and awareness across all services; implement a coordinated research programme with the development of a common data-set and assessment tool to fully characterise population-level needs; develop a professional network to share information, provide professional support and act as a knowledge hub. There was support for a unified multi-agency strategy incorporating the priorities identified as overarching principles.

Pass or fail: Teachers’ experience of assessment of postgraduate critical care nursing students’ competence in placement. A qualitative study

BackgroundLearning in placement is essential to postgraduate critical care nursing students’ education. Assessment of students’ competence in placement is important to ensure highly qualified postgraduate critical care nurses. The placement model applied in Norway involves students being assessed by a preceptor in practice and a teacher from the university. The teacher has a more distant role in placement, and the aim of this study was to explore how the teachers experience the assessment of postgraduate critical care nursing students’ competence in placement. Additionally, to explore the content of assessment documents used for postgraduate critical care nursing placement education in Norway.MethodsThis study has a qualitative design with main data collection from individual interviews with 10 teachers from eight universities and colleges in Norway. Additionally, we performed a document analysis of assessment documents from all 10 universities and colleges providing postgraduate critical care nursing education in Norway. We followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.ResultsThe teachers experienced the assessment of postgraduate critical care nursing students’ competence in placement as important but complex, and some found it difficult to determine what critical care nursing competence is at advanced level. A thematic analysis resulted in one main theme: “Teacher facilitates the bridging between education and practice.” Furthermore, three themes were identified: “Assessment based on trust and shared responsibility”; “The teacher’s dual role as judge and supervisor”; and “A need for common, clear and relevant assessment criteria”.ConclusionsTeachers have a key role in placement as they contribute to the bridging between education and practice by providing valuable pedagogical and academic input to the assessment process. We suggest that more teachers should be employed in joint university and clinical positions to enhance the collaboration between practice and education. Clear and relevant assessment criteria are essential for providing assessment support for both students and educators. Education and practice should collaborate on developing assessment criteria. Further, there is a need to collaborate on developing, both nationally and internationally, common, clear, relevant and user-friendly assessment tools.

Forensic Aftercare Facilities and Their Impact on the Releasability of Persons Who Committed Sexual Offenses: A Three Group Comparison.

Partly due to a lack of release options for individuals who committed sexual offenses, forensic follow-up treatment has been strengthened latest since 2007. The current study investigates whether the foundation of a professionalized follow-up-treatment has actually improved release options for individuals who committed sexual offenses. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the difference in criminogenic needs and recidivism relevant characteristics (e.g., index offense, criminal history, psychiatric diagnoses and risk assessment) between three groups who had been released from forensic psychiatry at different times or under different outpatient follow-up modalities: (1) individuals released prior the foundation of professionalized follow-up-treatment, (2) individuals released after the foundation and received treatment, and (3) individuals released after the foundation but not receiving this special treatment. It was found that with the availability of professionalized forensic followup treatment, persons with higher scores in common risk assessment tools and a longer duration of implacement had been released. Indeed, this indicates an increased risk tolerance among decision makers. However, it was not those who were released after the foundation of the professionalized forensic follow-up treatment but without this specific treatment who showed the lowest initial risk, but those who were released prior to the foundation. Results are discussed in terms of possible explanations and methodological issues.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics for Effective Online Quality Monitoring and Process Control during Pelagic Fishmeal and Oil Processing.

Near-infrared spectroscopy has become a common quality assessment tool for fishmeal products during the last two decades. However, to date it has not been used for active online quality monitoring during fishmeal processing. Our aim was to investigate whether NIR spectroscopy, in combination with multivariate chemometrics, could actively predict the changes in the main chemical quality parameters of pelagic fishmeal and oil during processing, with an emphasis on lipid quality changes. Results indicated that partial least square regression (PLSR) models from the NIR data effectively predicted proximate composition changes during processing (with coefficients of determination of an independent test set at RCV2 = 0.9938, RMSECV = 2.41 for water; RCV2 = 0.9773, RMSECV = 3.94 for lipids; and RCV2 = 0.9356, RMSECV = 5.58 for FFDM) and were successful in distinguishing between fatty acids according to their level of saturation (SFA (RCV2=0.9928, RMSECV=0.24), MUFA (RCV2=0.8291, RMSECV=1.49), PUFA (RCV2=0.8588, RMSECV=2.11)). This technique also allowed the prediction of phospholipids (PL RCV2=0.8617, RMSECV=0.11, and DHA (RCV2=0.8785, RMSECV=0.89) and EPA content RCV2=0.8689, RMSECV=0.62) throughout processing. NIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics is, thus, a powerful quality assessment tool that can be applied for active online quality monitoring and processing control during fishmeal and oil processing.

Assessment of memory deficits in psychiatric disorders: A systematic literature review.

Memory deficits are observed across psychiatric disorders ranging from the prodrome of psychosis to common mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and dissociative disorders. Memory deficits among patients recovering from psychiatric disorders could be directly related to the primary illness or secondary to the adverse effect of a treatment such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). The trouble in the meaningful integration of working-memory and episodic memory is the most commonly affected domain that requires routine assessments. An update on the recent trends of methods of assessment of memory deficits is the first step towards understanding and correcting these deficits to target optimum recovery. A systematic literature search was conducted from October 2018 to October 2022 to review the recent methods of assessment of memory deficits in psychiatric disorders. The definition of 'Memory deficit' was operationalized as 'selective processes of memory, commonly required for activities of daily living, and affected among psychiatric disorders resulting in subjective distress and dysfunction'. We included 110 studies, most of them being conducted in western countries on patients with schizophrenia. Other disorders included dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery, California Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test Part A and B, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Wechsler Memory Scale, Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale-IV were the most common neuropsychological assessments used. Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were the most common bedside assessment tools used while Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire was commonly used to measure ECT-related memory deficits. The review highlights the recent developments in the field of assessment of memory deficits in psychiatric disorders. Findings recommend and emphasize routine assessment of memory deficits among psychiatric disorders in developing countries especially severe mental illnesses. It remains interesting to see the role of standardized assessments in diagnostic systems given more than a decade of research on memory deficits in psychiatric disorders.

How to Assess Oral Narrative Skills of Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) often encounter difficulties with narrative skills. Yet, there is a lack of research focusing on how to assess these skills in this population. This study offers an overview of the tools used for assessing oral narrative skills in children and adolescents with ID, addressing key questions about common assessment tools, their characteristics, and reported evidence. A systematic review was conducted of the literature published between 2010 and 2023 in the PsycINFO, ERIC, Education, and Psychology databases. An initial 1176 studies were reviewed by abstract, of which 485 were read in full text, leading to the selection and analysis of 22 studies. Most of the identified tools involve analyzing language samples obtained using wordless picture story books. Three common tools are emphasized. Studies have primarily identified inter-rater reliability and test-criterion evidence for validity. The main tools and their characteristics are discussed in depth to aid readers in discerning suitable options for research or practical applications. The importance of reporting diverse sources of evidence for validity and reliability within this population is highlighted.

Leveraging packet tracer as a common assessment tool in a virtual learning environment: a case study

Leveraging packet tracer as a common assessment tool in a virtual learning environment: a case study

Numerical study of nonlinear interaction of the guided wave due to breathing type debonding in stiffened panel

Abstract The common tool for assessment of breathing-type debonding in metallic or composite structures is nonlinear guided wave-based technique. The past studies show that with debonding size, the strength of the nonlinearity does not exhibit strictly increasing or decreasing trends, or that the monocity is valid up to a certain size limit of debonding. This paper presents the study of non-linear interaction of guided waves in the debonding interface of a metallic stiffened panel. The study attempts to establish a relationship between the contact energy generated by the contact acoustic nonlinearity (CAN) at the debonding interface and the associated nonlinearity strength for various debonding sizes at various excitation frequencies. A numerical model of the stiffened panels is developed in three-dimensional finite element (FE) and validated with experiments for the study of interaction of nonlinear guided waves. The validated FE model is used to conduct studies on nonlinear interactions in debonding. The outcome of this study contributes to a better understanding of how guided waves can be used to effectively assess the debonding in metallic stiffened panels by considering non-linear interactions at the debonding interface. The study also provides insights into a more accurate and consistent quantification of the debonding using higher harmonic signals and contact energy produced by non-linear interactions.

Comparing Common Risk Assessment Tools to Predict Outcomes in Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundA number of tools exist to aid surgeons in risk assessment, including the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI), and various measures of frailty, such as the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFR). While all of these tools have been validated for general use, the best risk assessment tool is still debated. Risk assessment is particularly important in elective surgery, such as total joint arthroplasty. The aim of this study is to compare the predictive power of the CCI, ECI, and HFR in the setting of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsAll patients who underwent TKA were identified via International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision code from the National Readmissions Database, years 2016 to 2019. Patient demographics, perioperative complications, and hospital-associated outcomes were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created and area under the curves (AUCs) evaluated to gauge the predictive capabilities of each risk assessment tool (CCI, ECI, and HFR) across a range of outcomes. ResultsA total of 1,930,803 patients undergoing TKA were included in our analysis. For mortality, ECI was most predictive (0.95 AUC), while HFR and CCI were 0.75 and 0.74 AUC, respectively. For periprosthetic fractures, ECI was 0.78 AUC, HFR was 0.68 AUC, and CCI was 0.66 AUC. For joint infections, the ECI was 0.78 AUC, the HFR was 0.63 AUC, and the CCI was 0.62 AUC. For 30-day readmission, ECI was 0.79 AUC, while HFR and CCI were 0.6 AUC. For 30-day reoperation, ECI was 0.69 AUC, while HFR was 0.58 AUC and CCI was 0.56 AUC. ConclusionsOur analysis shows that ECI is superior to CCI and HFR for predicting 30-day postoperative outcomes following TKA. Surgeons should consider assessing patients using ECI prior to TKA.

Analysis of the top global emergency and disaster databases

Relevance. Despite advancements in industrial production technologies, no decrease is observed in global statistics for disasters and emergencies, as well as their identified precursors. Reliable and comprehensive inventory of global and regional disaster databases reinforces the development of effective national emergency prevention policies, improving the resilience of industrial facilities against adverse and thus generating extensive evidence for research. The objective is to study top global disaster information management databases and their inventory.Methods. The Internet, state reports, research papers available in the Russian Science Citation Index, Scopus and Web of Science bibliography databases were the major sources of data regarding top global disaster and emergency databases.Results and discussion. EM-DAT: OFDA/CRED (Emergency Events Database), NatCatSERVICE, SIGMA, GLIDE (Global IDEntifier Number), CatNat Global (The natural disasters database (NATDIS)), DesInventar (Disaster Inventory System) are among the top global databases, having quantitative assessment for disaster risk indexes and consequences. Comparative studies of emergency data entries across databases was performed to allow countries and regions to develop common global assessment tools for emergency consequences.Conclusion. Consistent terminology and uniformity of data submission procedures across top global international databases allows Russian and international experts to develop the most effective tools to predict and prevent various emergencies and build common consequence assessment strategies for countries and regions of the world.

Cognitive load scale in learning formal definition of limit: A rasch model approach

Constructing proofs for the limit using the formal definition induces a high cognitive load. Common assessment tools, like cognitive load scales, lack specificity for the concept of limits. This research aims to validate an instrument tailored to assess cognitive load in students focused on the formal definition of limits, addressing the need for diverse strategies in education. The research employs a quantitative survey design with a Rasch model approach, utilizing a data collection instrument in the form of a questionnaire. Subsequently, the data are analyzed by focusing on three aspects: (1) item fit to the Rasch model, (2) unidimensionality, and (3) rating scale. A total of 315 students from three private universities in Banten participated as research respondents. The findings of this study affirm the validity of the cognitive load scale centered on the formal definition of limit, meeting the stringent standards set by Rasch modeling. Additionally, the results of the study provide evidence of the scale’s adherence to the monotonic principle of the Rasch model. These outcomes contribute to a comprehensive understanding of cognitive load in the context of learning formal definition of limit, providing a solid foundation for instructional design and assessment strategies.

A Critical Review About the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Pain Assessment

Pain is a serious health problem in both adults and infants. If left untreated, it results in serious physiological and psychological consequences. Therefore, accurate and quick pain assessment is crucial to avoid these consequences. While self-reports remain the gold standard in verbal humans, other pain assessment tools are used in infants and noncommunicative people, such as facial expressions, visual analog, and numerical rating scales. Manual pain assessment has several limitations, such as its subjective nature, inconsistency, and potential for bias originating from different sources, including observer gender and culture. Automated pain assessment has received much attention in the last few years, combining artificial intelligence (AI) with these manual tools to achieve accurate and objective pain assessment, especially in infants or nonverbal patients. However, a gap between developing AI models for pain assessment and their application exists. This gap needs to be addressed so that clinicians understand the limitations of using AI-powered pain assessment tools. This paper provides an overview of common pain assessment tools powered with AI, which are facial expressions, body and head movements, language analysis, electrodermal activity, and electroencephalography. In addition, it discusses the gap between the AI models developed based on these tools and their applications under clinical conditions.

Identification of multimorbidity patterns in older adults receiving long-term care in Canada, Italy, Finland and New Zealand: results from the ICARE4OLD project

Background: Older adults receiving home care (HC) services and living in long-term care homes (LTC) experience high levels of multimorbidity. In this project - called iCARE4OLD, we aimed first to identify and compare subgroups of care dependent individuals sharing the same patterns of chronic diseases. For these subgroups, we will identify care paths and try to make integration of services and continuity of care possible. &#x0D; Settings and participants: We studied 102,000 individuals 60+ years receiving HC services or living in LTC homes in Canada, Italy, Finland and New Zealand.&#x0D; Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including the baseline interRAI HC and LTCF assessments of older people in the period of 2014 until 2018. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement number 965341 and from the New Frontiers Research Fund, grant number NFRFG-2020-00500.&#x0D; Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to classify individuals according to their underlying diseases patterns starting from a list of 19 conditions. &#x0D; Results: Mean age of the sample was 80 years (65% females). After assessing several fit parameters, a 5-class solution was chosen as the best model for both HC and LTC. The following 5 disease patterns were identified in all countries: (1) Alzheimer/dementia; (2) psychiatric diseases; (3) cardio-pulmonary diseases; (4) stroke/hemiplegia; (5) other dementias. The distribution of sociodemographic, clinical and functional characteristics varied across the different multimorbidity patterns, with the cardio-pulmonary disease and the stroke/hemiplegia patterns showing the highest complexity and impairment.&#x0D; Results: Our results show that, by using a common assessment tool, it is possible to identify homogeneous morbidity patterns in older patients receiving long-term care. These may be useful to compare health status in care-dependent individuals across different settings and countries, as well as to predict health trajectories and care needs. &#x0D; Discussion: By applying this methodology to whole populations, care paths can be drawn for home care and residential care clients in a more evidence-based way. The goals would be to use these algorithms to design more integrated care plans for older persons, so that clients and their families are better served, and policy makers can finance the right services and offer targeted care.&#x0D;