Evaluation of an integrated system for classification, assessment and comparison of services for long-term care in Europe: the eDESDE-LTC study

Salvador-Carulla, Luis, Alvarez-Galvez, Javier, Romero, Cristina, Gutiérrez-Colosía, Mencia R, Weber, Germain, McDaid, David ORCID: 0000-0003-0744-2664, Dimitrov, Hristo, Sprah, Lilijana, Kalseth, Birgitte, Tibaldi, Giuseppe, Salinas-Perez, Jose A, Lagares-Franco, Carolina, Romá-Ferri, Maria and Johnson, Sonia (2013) Evaluation of an integrated system for classification, assessment and comparison of services for long-term care in Europe: the eDESDE-LTC study. BMC Health Services Research, 13 (1). p. 218. ISSN 1472-6963

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Abstract

The harmonization of European health systems brings with it a need for tools to allow the standardized collection of information about medical care. A common coding system and standards for the description of services are needed to allow local data to be incorporated into evidence-informed policy, and to permit equity and mobility to be assessed. The aim of this project has been to design such a classification and a related tool for the coding of services for Long Term Care (DESDE-LTC), based on the European Service Mapping Schedule (ESMS). Methods. The development of DESDE-LTC followed an iterative process using nominal groups in 6 European countries. 54 researchers and stakeholders in health and social services contributed to this process. In order to classify services, we use the minimal organization unit or "Basic Stable Input of Care" (BSIC), coded by its principal function or "Main Type of Care" (MTC). The evaluation of the tool included an analysis of feasibility, consistency, ontology, inter-rater reliability, Boolean Factor Analysis, and a preliminary impact analysis (screening, scoping and appraisal). Results: DESDE-LTC includes an alpha-numerical coding system, a glossary and an assessment instrument for mapping and counting LTC. It shows high feasibility, consistency, inter-rater reliability and face, content and construct validity. DESDE-LTC is ontologically consistent. It is regarded by experts as useful and relevant for evidence-informed decision making. Conclusion: DESDE-LTC contributes to establishing a common terminology, taxonomy and coding of LTC services in a European context, and a standard procedure for data collection and international comparison.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/
Additional Information:	© 2013 Salvador-Carulla et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
Divisions:	Care Policy and Evaluation Centre
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2013 13:45
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 00:24
Projects:	Project Ref. 2007/116, European Service Mapping Schedule (ESMS-II)
Funders:	Executive Agency of Health and Consumer (EAHC), Instituto Carlos III, REFINEMEMT project (Ec-Ga Nº261459-2010) - VII Framework Programme of the EU
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/50932

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