Mental Health-Related Quality Indicators for Long-Term Care: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Mental Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Mental health conditions are prevalent in long-term care settings.
• Australia lacks mandated mental health quality indicators for residential aged care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve national consensus on quality indicators for a mental health benchmarking tool in Australian residential aged care.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi study with two rounds of online surveys.
• A panel of 49 experts (clinical, academic, industry, consumer) participated.
• Indicators were rated on importance and feasibility using a 5-point Likert scale.

Main Results:

• Twenty-seven indicators achieved consensus for inclusion based on importance.
• Indicators covered assessment, management, resources, staff training, and resident outcomes.
• Qualitative feedback indicated the indicators are comprehensive and valuable, though feasibility consensus was mixed.

Conclusions:

• Consensus was reached on a blend of structure, process, and outcome quality indicators.
• Future research will pilot test these indicators in residential aged care.
• The benchmarking tool has potential to enhance mental health care in aged care settings nationally and globally.