interRAI PEDS-HC
The pilot project interRAI PEDS-HC examined the professional relevance and practical applicability of the interRAI PEDS-HC in the context of Swiss Children's Spitex.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Health Professions
- Institute(s) Nursing
- Research unit(s) Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
- Funding organisation Others
- Duration 01.04.2022 - 31.05.2023
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Friederike J.S. Thilo
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Project staff
Prof. Dr. Friederike J.S. Thilo
Sabrina Gröble
Esther Bättig
Situation
In Switzerland, the pediatric home care service (Kinderspitex) cares for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 who suffer from intellectual, physical, or multiple disabilities, or chronic illnesses. The care costs are covered by social insurance and health insurance, but the Spitex tariffs are not sufficient, so remaining costs are covered by contributions from municipalities, cantons, and donations. The assessment of care needs is currently conducted before discharge from the hospital or at home using various, sometimes unstructured instruments. This leads to differing assessments of the needs and resources of the children and their families, which influences both the care interventions and the financing. A standardized, systematically developed instrument would allow for a uniform assessment and transparent costs, as well as ensure the quality of services. The interRAI PEDS-HC was developed in the USA and could serve as such an instrument. However, it is not yet widely used in Switzerland, making it important to determine whether and how it can be used in pediatric home care in Switzerland. It is still unclear whether the interRAI PEDS-HC is professionally and practically suitable for use in the Swiss pediatric home care setting.
Course of action
The goal of the pilot project was to evaluate the professional relevance and practical applicability of the interRAI PEDS-HC in the context of pediatric home care in Switzerland. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the clarity of the items, the professional adequacy of the data collected for individual care planning, and the feasibility of implementing the instrument in practice. The pilot project used a mixed-methods design, involving both quantitative and qualitative data collection to examine the professional relevance and practical applicability of the interRAI PEDS-HC from multiple perspectives. In the quantitative phase, two online questionnaires were used to assess the clarity (items), professional appropriateness (data, focus assessments, application), and practical applicability of the instrument. The qualitative phase involved a focus group that deepened the understanding of the quantitative results and further examined the practical applicability.
Result
The study found that the interRAI PEDS-HC is generally considered suitable for use in the needs assessment process in pediatric home care, but adjustments in various areas are necessary to optimize its use in practice and support the care process effectively. Further research and modifications are needed to maximize the instrument's efficiency and benefits.
