Quality-of-life Assessment
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HOW DO WE INTREPRET OUR FINDINGS?
Our best advice is simply this: Let common sense guide you.
Bear in mind that you are collecting two types of data: 1) individual data, or the responses from each person who answers your questions, and 2) group data, as represented by the statistical picture you derive from analyzing all responses. Conclusions drawn from the individual data may be very different from conclusions drawn from group data. Moreover, one data type may be more useful than the other type in guiding your improvement efforts.
Consider your goals: If, for example, you want to offer social activities that most residents will enjoy, then examine resident responses as a group. In this case, it is appropriate for majority preferences to outweigh individual preferences.
More frequently, improvement efforts in nursing homes are intended to enhance care and daily life for the individual. If one resident prefers to get out of bed in the morning at 6 a.m. but his roommate prefers 8 a.m., you meet neither one's preference if you decide to split the difference and help them both to get up at 7 a.m. When the goal is to tailor care and services to meet personal needs and preferences, then your improvement efforts must be driven by the individual responses of each resident you interview.
You can use group statistical data to set and measure performance goals, however. For example, an intervention designed to improve toileting assistance may aim to earn an average discrepancy score of 0, meaning that on average, residents who require toileting assistance receive as much of this assistance as each person wants.
(Question List | Your Assignment)
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