title: A feedback system to improve the quality of nutritional care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to develop a feedback system that improves the translation of malnutrition performance data from the Dutch National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems (LPZ) into relevant evidence- and practice-based interventions in care homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The process consisted of two stages. The first was the development of a feedback system. Twenty-four interviews were held with health care professionals in care homes that participated in the LPZ to gain insight into needs regarding the translation of performance data into relevant improvement interventions. Subsequently, three multidisciplinary focus groups discussed how to develop a feedback system to deal with those needs. In the second stage, the feasibility of this system was evaluated via a questionnaire (N = 93) that was sent to care homes participating in LPZ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was important that performance data be more transparent regarding which information was relevant and that insight was gained into how to improve nutritional care. To address these needs, a dashboard was developed to present performance data in a transparent way. Subsequently, a decision tree was developed that links LPZ dashboard outcomes to evidence-based nutritional interventions for care homes. Forty-seven respondents (50.5%) evaluated the new feedback system (the dashboard and the decision tree) as feasible. The content and design were perceived to be very useful. Half of the participating institutions had already started working with improvement activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The developed feedback system was evaluated as useful for improving nutritional patient care in the future. This system will also be developed for other health care settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. j.meijers@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Judith M M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Meijers
authors.forename: Ruud J G
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Halfens
authors.forename: Donja M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mijnarends
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mostert
authors.forename: Jos M G A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schols
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005246:Feedback; D006282:Health Personnel; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires