Improving communicable disease outbreak preparedness in residential aged care facilities using an interventional interview strategy.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the capacity of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to respond to communicable disease outbreaks.


METHODS
Three computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with RACFs. The first survey gathered baseline information. Outbreak prevention resources were then offered to address identified weaknesses. Subsequent surveys enabled the facilities' progress to be monitored. Before the third survey, RACFs were sent a personalized scorecard documenting their standing against 19 readiness criteria.


RESULTS
RACFs reporting an outbreak management plan increased from 58 to 98%, and facilities reporting 16 or more of the 19 readiness criteria rose from 24 to 43% (P < 0.0006) at the second interview and 73% at the third interview (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The strategy resulted in a significant improvement in reported outbreak readiness.
Eastwood
Keith
K
Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. keith.eastwood@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Osbourn
Maggi
M
Francis
Lynn
L
Merritt
Tony
T
Nicholas
Craig
C
Cashman
Patrick
P
Durrheim
David
D
Wiggers
John
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D011336:Probability; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012112:Residential Facilities; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends
D007252:Influenza Vaccines