Effects of the implementation of the Resident Assessment Instrument on gaps between perceived needs and nursing care supply for nursing home residents in the Netherlands

This study evaluated the effects of the implementation of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) on gaps perceived between residents’ needs and nursing care received in Dutch nursing homes. In a controlled group design residents were interviewed before and after the implementation. Most gaps were perceived in the psycho-social area rather than physical or needs with aids and facilities. In general, perceived gaps decreased more strongly in the experimental group. The results give an indication that assessment using RAI leads to a better meeting of the residents’ perceived needs. More research is needed to investigate the quality of the assessment using RAI in more detail.