title: Applying Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-III) in Hong Kong nursing homes.
abstract: Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III) is a case-mix system developed in the United States for categorization of nursing home residents and the financing of residential care services. In Hong Kong, RUG-III is based on several board groups of residents. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the RUG-III in Hong Kong nursing homes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven residential facilities operated by one agency. Residents ( N = 1,127) were assessed by the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and nursing as well as auxiliary staff care times were recorded within 2 weeks before or after the completion of MDS assessment. Forty-five out 1,127 residents were re-interviewed by an independent assessor to assess the inter-rater reliability. The inter-rater reliability of MDS assessment was excellent (kappa = 0.76) and the original RUG-III accounted for about 30 per cent of nursing staff time. Results provide preliminary evidence to support that RUG-III is a reliable and valid case-mix system for Hong Kong nursing homes, but future studies must be explored to reduce the variance of resource use explained by this case-mix system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong. klchou@hku.hk
authors.forename: Kee-Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Joe C B
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D040841:Resource Allocation