Shared decision-making on a ‘life-and-care plan’udin long-term care facilities: research protocol

摘要

AimudTo determine whether the number of residents’ preferences and needs togetherudwith the actions taken to satisfy them recorded into their ‘life-and-care plans’udwill increase and the process of shared decision-making will improve theudresidents’ psychosocial well-being.udBackgroundudShared decision-making is defined as a process where healthcare professionalsudand patients make decisions together, using the best available evidence.The aimsudof the present study were to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an SDMudframework for care planning in long-term care facilities and its potential effectivenessudon the proportion of dementia residents whose own preferences andudneeds and the related actions, are known, satisfied and documented in theirud‘life-and-care plans’.udDesignudThe current project is a feasibility trial and it was approved in November 2013.udMethodsudResearch subjects are triads composed of the resident with dementia, a familyudcaregiver and the professional usually taking care for the resident. Professionaludcaregivers of two nursing homes, one located in Italy and one in theudNetherlands, will receive a specific training in SDM principles and will guideudthe SDM interview in the triad. The primary outcome will be the proportionudof residents whose preferences and needs, together with the relatedudactions to meet them, are known, documented and satisfied in their ‘lifeand-udcare plans’.udTrial registrationudNCT02118701.