Attachment F – Resident and Family Member Information Sheet

Attachment F

Information Sheet

Improving Prescribing Medicines for Infections: A Study

X nursing home has the opportunity to participate in an important study about prescribing antibiotics.

What is this study about?

The goal of this study is to help doctors and other health care providers make better decisions about antibiotics for nursing home residents.

Nursing home residents have high rates of infections. In some cases, residents get drug resistant infections because of taking so many medicines. Experts in nursing home care, aging, and infections developed advice about medicine use for infections that are common. These guidelines will help protect residents from developing dangerous drug-resistant infections.

Who is doing this study?

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is funding this study. The American Institutes for Research, Texas A & M University, TMF Health Quality Institute, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Wisconsin are leading this effort.

What does this study involve?

Each nursing home will choose a tool to help their doctors or other health care providers make better decisions about antibiotics. Researchers from TMF Health Quality Institute will gather data from medical records of residents with infections. The researchers will look to see if using the tool helps doctors and other health care professionals make good clinical decisions. They will also look to see if residents have better health.

How does this study involve you or your family member?

Researchers will look at medical records of residents with infections.

How will my information be kept safe?

The researchers will not collect residents’ names. All resident information will be kept safe and confidential. Only trained staff who have signed confidentiality agreements will be able to see the information.

What are the benefits and risks of this study to the resident?

There are no direct benefits or risks of this study to the resident. Hopefully, this project may lead to better antibiotic use and better health outcomes for residents in general. This may also lead to better communication between nursing homes and doctors and other health care providers.

Who can I contact if I want more information?

You can talk to your administrator or Elizabeth Frentzel at the American Institutes for Research at (781) 373-7079 or efrentzel@air.org.