[Feasibility of implementing the multidimensional complexity assessment tool (COMID) in home care: a qualitative study]

Clinical complexity is an emerging problem, especially for nursing professionals, who often do not have validated instruments to assess it within their daily clinical practice. This has particular relevance in home care, where patients and their social networks are often assisted by teams of nurses who face multiple challenges in providing personalized care to patients with complex needs or situations.

To explore the feasibility of implementing a specific tool, COMID, which assesses the complexity of nursing care within the home-care setting of Ticino, Switzerland.

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. The researchers invited clinical nurses and nurse leaders to participate in focus groups. A thematic-analysis approach was used to analyze the data.

Two focus groups were conducted, with a total of 19 participants. Three themes were identified through thematic analysis: COMID's peculiarities, COMID's implementation and education. Two subthemes were identified within the first theme, advantages and disadvantages, while four subthemes were found within the second theme: barriers, facilitating elements, utilization strategy and opportunities. No further subthemes were identified within the third theme. Although participants expressed that COMID was easy to use, its full implementation into practice may depend on support from local health policies.

Nurses view COMID as a valid tool for their daily clinical practice, but sustainable local health policies are needed to support its implementation within the home-care setting of Ticino, Switzerland.