[Graduates of the Model Study Courses in the Health Professions in North Rhine-Westphalia: Employment Characteristics and Competencies in Professional Practice]. / Verbleib der Absolventinnen und Absolventen der Modellstudiengänge in den Gesundheitsfachberufen in Nordrhein-Westfalen: Ergebnisse zu Beschäftigungsmerkmalen und Kompetenzen in der Berufspraxis.

AIM: The aim of this article was to present key results of the graduates' survey VAMOS. The study examined the professional status of the graduates of 12 model study courses in the health professions in North Rhine-Westphalia. The focus of the article was on the employment characteristics of the current main jobs and the application of the academic competencies in everyday professional life. METHODS: In the early summer of 2018 (April to June), 515 graduates of the model study courses in nursing (N=244), physiotherapy (N=97), speech therapy (N=95), occupational therapy (N=47), and midwifery (N=32) were included in an online cross-sectional survey. Graduating classes between the winter semester 2013/2014 and the summer semester 2017 were included. In addition, employers (N=109) were interviewed who hired graduates from the model study courses. RESULTS: The main jobs of the graduates were mostly located in hospitals and outpatient therapy practices. Eight out of ten graduates (84%) performed tasks in direct contact with patients as the main part of their employment. In 71% of these cases, the regular tasks were combined with extended activities in comparison to colleagues without an academic degree. On average, the graduates felt confident in all competency dimensions examined in this study. In all dimensions, employers perceived a "competence advantage" for graduates compared to colleagues without an academic degree. CONCLUSION: The results of this graduate survey support the current recommendation to have the study programs in the five health care professions governed by professional laws and to enable the programs to be carried out at universities.

[Resident assessment instrument. Application options and relevance for Germany]. / Resident Assessment Instrument. Anwendungsoptionen und Relevanz für Deutschland.

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) is a structured and standardized instrument to improve the quality of long-term care. It is based on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 to generate clinical data for nursing planning. Further practical applications are calculation of the costs of nursing care (using a classification of residents), measurement and transparency of nursing home quality (using quality indicators) and epidemiological surveys (using uniform data from assessments). The RAI is used nationwide in the USA, to some extent in other countries and in Germany predominantly in the context of research. The paper briefly describes the historical development of the different RAI variations (particularly with respect to the MDS), presents the central utilization options and ends with a critical discussion of possibilities and limits of the RAI.

Case management and care expertise as a prevention approach for adults with intellectual disabilities (FaPP-MgB): study protocol for a randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disabilities have a higher prevalence of unhealthy eating habits, stress, low levels of mobility, and comparable drug consumption as the general population. Consequently, they suffer from several chronic diseases earlier and more often, but there are fewer prevention and health promotion services including this population. The goal of this study is to determine if an advanced practice nursing approach in the community with home visits is an effective way to improve the health status of adults with intellectual disabilities. METHODS: We will conduct a randomized-controlled trial with waiting list design in Hamburg, Germany. Inclusion criteria are diagnosis ICD F70-F79 and exclusion criteria are care level > 3 according to the German Social Code XI or being at the end-of-life. Participants will be block randomized. The intervention consists of advanced practice nurses performing case management, social space analysis, prevention planning, and counseling through four outreach home visits on nutrition, mobility, addiction, and stress. Comparison is usual care. The primary outcome is health status (WHODAS) after 12 months. Secondary outcomes are health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) and resilience (RS-11) after 6 and 12 months. The calculated sample size is 256 with an estimated dropout of 30%. Raters and analysts will be blinded. Analysis will be performed using ANCOVAs. DISCUSSION: By providing case management and utilizing their nursing expertise, advanced practice nurses will provide valuable input and guidance on prevention and health promotion for people with intellectual disabilities. They will close the gap between health and social care, which is prominent in Germany, through cooperation between the existing care sectors. The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00028771 , registered 4 July 2022, Universal Trial Number: U1111-1277-0595.