Implementation of vitamin D supplements in Australian residential aged care facilities (ViDAus Study)

The below described intervention will occur over 12 months for each participating residential aged care facility, The first group of participating sites began in December 2015 and the second group of participating sites will be beginning in June 2016. The study intervention will therefore be completed by June 2017. Intervention: Multifaceted interdisciplinary education to increase vitamin D supplementation and reduce falls for older people in residential aged care facilities. Educational information will be provided to all stakeholder groups in various formats. GPs, pharmacists and allied health staff will receive 4-5 newsletters throughout the duration of the intervention to report audit outcomes, provide education and to provide links to online materials. Each participating site will also receive these newsletters in addition to printed educational materials. This will include brochures and posters suitable for residents and their families and more detailed written information for nursing staff. A short educational film will also be made available to all sites who will be encouraged to show this to their residents and their families. Site management, nursing and care staff will also be encouraged to attend a 1 hour face-to-face group seminar delivered by the study officer at each site focused on providing information on the role, sources and recommended use of vitamin D supplements. All of these resources will be made available to participating sites within the first 4 months of the intervention. 6 monthly feedback of vitamin D supplement use prevalence for each participating facility. Identification of a local leader and use of an expert opinion leader to disseminate information to stakeholders of participating facilities. Support for the identification and execution of quality improvement opportunities to increase best practice vitamin D supplement use by residents. This will occur through discussions with the nominated key contact/s of each site both face to face and over the phone. Initial discussions will take place over the first 6 months of the intervention, with a plan to decide on a course of action at the end of this period once prevalence data has been reviewed and potential barriers have been identified. Anonymous staff surveys and online questionnaires to measure knowledge, confidence and satisfaction. Anonymous resident and family questionnaires Adherence to the above mentioned interventions will be measured by recording what was scheduled (E.g. face-to-face education), by taking attendance at sessions and via check in calls with key contacts to ascertain what has been achieved onsite (e.g. are educational posters and brochures on display, has the video been shown to residents and family members, have quality improvement plans been devised and has action been taken).