PhD defence Johanna Isabella Elisabeth van Dorst

Keywords: Nursing, Variation, Needs assessment 

"Same client, different care? Investigating Practice Variation in Home Care Needs Assessment"

Home care nurses are responsible for conducting needs assessments to provide clients with access to services under the Health Insurance Act. Stakeholders have anecdotal reports of practice variation: clients in similar situations receiving different hours and types of care. The Dutch Government initiated research because a needs assessment is essential for delivering high-quality home care, and there were signs of practice variation that could undermine care quality. This research involved six studies focused on: 1) How are nurses prepared during their bachelor’s programs for needs assessments? 2) Can practice variation be defined, and what factors influence it? 3) Does variation occur in actual practice? 

The findings of the studies showed variation in both practice and education. Current needs assessments by home care nurses mainly focus on somatic issues and planning interventions, often neglecting psychosocial problems during diagnosis and goal-setting. 

Click here for the live stream.