The Deterioration Early Warning System for aged residential care: a feasibility study with qualitative analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Residential aged care (RAC) facilities require effective tools for managing patient deterioration.
• The Deterioration Early Warning System (DEWS) was developed in New Zealand to aid RAC staff.
• Timely identification and response to acute deterioration are critical in aged care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the DEWS in identifying and responding to acute patient deterioration.
• To assess the feasibility of implementing DEWS within the residential aged care sector.

Main Methods:

• A type 2 feasibility-implementation study using the RE-AIM framework.
• Data collection through focus group semi-structured interviews.
• Analysis using template thematic analysis for descriptive and interpretive themes.

Main Results:

• DEWS proved effective for the timely identification of and response to acute deterioration in care residents.
• The implementation of DEWS was found to be feasible within the RAC setting.
• Participants recommended the system's widespread adoption.

Conclusions:

• DEWS supports multidisciplinary teams in timely acute deterioration management.
• Participant recommendations support DEWS adoption in the RAC sector.
• Future DEWS implementation necessitates digitalization and integration with IT infrastructure.