Using the "Surprise Question" in Nursing Homes: A Prospective Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: The "Surprise Question" (SQ) is often used to identify patients who may benefit from a palliative care approach. The time frame of the typical question (a 12-month prognosis) may be unsuitable for identifying residents in nursing homes since it may not be able to differentiate between those who have a more imminent risk of death within a cohort of patients with high care needs.

Objective: To examine the accuracy and acceptability of 3 versions of the SQ with shortened prognostication time frames (3 months, 6 months, and "the next season") in the nursing home setting.

Research impact of systems-level long-term care research: a multiple case study.

Background: Traditional reporting of research outcomes and impacts, which tends to focus on research product publications and grant success, does not capture the value, some contributions, or the complexity of research projects. The purpose of this study was to understand the contributions of five systems-level research projects as they were unfolding at the Bruyère Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation (CLRI) in long-term care (LTC) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The research questions were, (1) How are partnerships with research end-users (policymakers, administrators and other public/private organisations) characterised? (2) How have interactions with the CLRI Management Committee and Steering Committee influenced the development of research products? (3) In what way have other activities, processes, unlinked actors or organisations been influenced by the research project activities?

Methods: The study was guided by Kok and Schuit's concept of research impacts, using a multiple case study design.

Clinical Nursing Leadership Education in Long-Term Care: Intervention Design and Evaluation.

The main objective of the current case study was to investigate the perceived leadership learning needs and feasibility of delivering leadership education to registered staff involved in direct care in long-term care (LTC) homes. The study was conducted in Ontario, Canada, and participants included RNs, registered practical nurses, and nursing administrators. Phase 1 bilingual web-based survey and bilingual focus group needs assessment data supported a preference for external training along with in-house mentoring to support sustainability.

Designated specialized units: How Ontario's long-term care homes fill a gap in care.

Ontario has eight designated Specialized Units (SUs) located in Long-Term Care (LTC) homes. Each unit serves a well-defined group of residents whose needs go beyond what regular LTC homes can offer but do not require the complexity and range of care provided in hospitals. An applied qualitative research project looked at the realities of designated SUs, explored their role in health system capacity planning, and created a tool kit to help stakeholders navigate the designation process.