The Deterioration Early Warning System for aged residential care: a feasibility study with qualitative analysis.

AIM: The Deterioration Early Warning System (DEWS) is a unique process, co-designed and developed in New Zealand, to support residential aged care (RAC) staff in the timely identification of, and response to, acute deterioration. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of DEWS and the feasibility of its implementation within the RAC sector.

METHOD: This type 2 feasibility-implementation study was planned and evaluated in line with the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Focus group semi-structured interviews were conducted and template thematic analysis was undertaken to provide descriptive and interpretive data themes.

RESULTS

Findings from this study support DEWS as an effective process for the timely identification of, and response to, acute deterioration in people living in care. Implementation was found to be feasible, with participants recommending the system's adoption across the RAC sector.

CONCLUSION

Participants recommended DEWS to the RAC sector for its capacity to support the multidisciplinary team with the timely identification of and response to acute deterioration. However, future implementation of DEWS is contingent on digitalisation and integration within existing information technology infrastructure.