Original scientific paper

QUALITY INDICATORS RELATED TO GEROPROPHYLAXIS IN CROATIAN NURSING HOMES

NADA TOMASOVIĆ MRČELA ; Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Referral Center for Health Care of the Elderly of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Department of Public Health Gerontology, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Split, University Department of Health Studies, Split, Croatia
BRANKO KOLARIĆ ; Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Referral Center for Health Care of the Elderly of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Department of Public Health Gerontology, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Rijeka, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia; Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia;
JASNA MESARIĆ ; Libertas International University, Zagreb, Croatia
ANA STAVLJENIĆ-RUKAVINA ; Libertas International University, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Aim: To determine and compare the values of quality indicators related to geroprophylaxis in Croatian nursing homes in
2017 and 2018, including the incidence of pressure ulcers in the past 90 days, prevalence of malnutrition and obesity,
vaccination against infl uenza in the past 12 months, receiving nine or more medications daily, and the presence of elements
of the 5Is geriatric syndrome in nursing home residents. Participants and Methods: Data collection was conducted using
the Questionnaire on monitoring quality indicators in nursing homes in 160 Croatian nursing homes (county-owned, state
and other founders) in 2017 and 2018. Based on the data available, 6 quality indicators related to geroprophylaxis were
calculated. Results: We received 66 (40%) completed questionnaires in 2017 and 64 (41%) in 2018. There was no statistically
signifi cant difference between the two time points for any of the indicators; the median prevalence of malnutrition was
4.9% (IQ=1.2%-8.2%) in 2017 and 5.0% (IQR=2.3-8.1) in 2018; the prevalence of nursing home residents with a body mass
index indicating obesity was 16.7% (IQR=7.2%-33.6%) in 2017 and 10.7% (IQR=5.0%-19.4 %) in 2018; the prevalence of
residents receiving nine or more drugs per day was 20.6% (IQR=11.9%-34.4%) in 2017 and 22.1% (IQR=13.8%-36.7%) in
2018; the prevalence of residents with elements of the 5Is geriatric syndrome was 25.4% (IQR=9.7%-49.7%) in 2017 and
27.2% (IQR=10.2%-54.1%) in 2018; the prevalence of residents vaccinated against infl uenza in the last 12 months was
54.1% (IQR=35.8%-76.1%) in 2017 and 62.7% (46.6% -81.7%) in 2018; and the incidence of residents with pressure ulcers
developed in the past 90 days was 0.7% (IQR=0%-1.7%) in 2017 and 1.3% (IQR=0.0%-2.3%) in 2018. Conclusion: This
study showed that the quality indicators assessed did not result in a statistically signifi cant change in Croatian nursing
homes over two years. Our research implies that all quality indicators require gerontologic-public health interventions,
demonstrating the importance of applying geroprophylactic measures from the Program of primary, secondary, tertiary and
quaternary prevention for the elderly in nursing homes.

Keywords

quality indicators in nursing home; geroprophylaxis; nursing home

Hrčak ID:

256708

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/256708

Publication date:

28.4.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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