Quality and safety for the public through domiciliary nursing in Italy: a multicentre cross-sectional descriptive observational study (The AIDOMUS-IT Protocol)

IntroductionThe development of this study protocol occurred in conjunction with the new Regulation defining models and standards for the development of community care in the National Health Service (Ministerial Decree n. 77-2022) with the redefinition of care in the community. Considered the increase in the elderly population, in the complexity of care and the workload for home care, it is important and urgent to describe the work environment and the Italian community care reality. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of nursing care and the quality of home care in the community in Italy. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional descriptive observational study using the survey method. The study protocol uses quantitative data from three sources: 1) primary data on organizational characteristics, professional satisfaction, intention to leave home care services, and burnout; 2) secondary data on the experience of patients and their informal carers; 3) data on improper access to the emergency department, readmission to hospital, comorbidities, services offered, and user level of autonomy, and main and secondary diagnoses. Data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. ConclusionsThe systematic analysis of the different national community care contexts will enable to increase the knowledge and awareness of the need for community health care. The availability of specific data will promote and support the role of the family and community nurse in district health care contexts, to increase the quality of care perceived by patients and their families.