Comparison of BESA and RAI: evaluating the outcomes of two assessment instruments for long-term residential care needs

• Published in: Pflege Vol. 27; no. 1; p. 31
• Main Authors: Gattinger, Heidrun, Ott, Stefan, Saxer, Susi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Switzerland 01.02.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Diagnostic Self Evaluation; Disability Evaluation; Eligibility Determination - statistics & numerical data; Female; Geriatric Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Nursing Homes; Observer Variation; Switzerland; Switzerland; Pflegeheim; Pflegebedarf; care needs; Geriatric Nursing Assessment; reimbursement; Geriatrisches Pflegeassessment; Pflegefinanzierung; nursing homes
• ISSN: 1012-5302
• DOI: 10.1024/1012-5302/a000337

In Switzerland, the level of nursing care required for residents in nursing homes is either assessed by the BESA Catalogue 2010 or by the Minimum Data Set (MDS) of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI). Within both instruments the nursing care need is represented in minutes. According to these minutes, the resident is allocated to a tariff level. The aim of the study was to compare the outcomes of the two assessment instruments BESA Catalogue 2010 and MDS. For this purpose data were collected in two nursing homes. At each facility 60 nursing home residents were assessed with the BESA Catalogue 2010 and the MDS. The assessments were independently performed by nurses of the facility (internal assessment) and by system experts (external assessment). Descriptive data analysis and a comparison of the outcome in minutes and with regard to tariff level were carried out. In average, internal assessments were higher than external assessments. In both nursing homes, half or 54 % of residents were allocated into a higher tariff level by means of internal assessment. Comparing the outcomes in total and within tariff level, significant differences were found. Different classifications may occur, especially for residents with high nursing care needs. As a result, higher or lower costs of nursing care may arise.