The RESPECT-brochure: Development of a tool to inform and empower residents and informal caregivers on the medicines' pathway in nursing homes

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a tool to inform and empower nursing home (NH) residents and informal caregivers regarding the medicines' pathway. METHODS: Feedback on the tool's text, drafted by the research team, was collected from a professional organization; the lay-out was designed by an illustrator. The tool was pilot tested in NHs, focusing on feasibility, appropriateness, and meaningfulness. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with residents, informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals were performed, as well as document analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed inductively. RESULTS: The RESPECT-brochure was developed and described each process of the medicines' pathway. Piloting showed that the tool was well perceived among residents and informal caregivers and offered opportunities to discuss medication-related questions and concerns, but that skills to tailor the conversation, especially given the changing NH population, a matching vision and local champion are required for the tool's uptake. CONCLUSION: An informative and empowering tool has been successfully developed and pilot tested in NHs. Future research should investigate which strategies for implementation work best and can explore the impact of the tool's use in daily practice. INNOVATION: The tool is the first in its kind and grants nursing home staff a new strategy to promote person-centered care.