Phase 2: large‐scale test

Calls for participation for the second phase of Stage II were sent out to previous participants of Stage I and II of the study (focus group, interviews, follow-up meeting and preliminary test), as well as further disseminated by members of the project steering committee and umbrella home care organizations. A total of 100 care professionals of organizations providing social care services agreed to participate in the study. Each assessor was asked to assess 10 clients with a BelRAI Screener and BelRAI Social Supplement and aim for variability in client profiles. The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the persons being assessed remained the same as in Phase 1.

Six standardized training cycles were organized across Flanders. We explained the aim of the study, the practical requirements and gave an overview of the dates and locations of the different training cycles in an information letter. Participants could use a webpage to register for the location and date of their choosing. A maximum of 25 participants were allowed per training cycle.

Training was provided by a researcher, in collaboration with a specialized BelRAI trainer from the designated training organization in Flanders. And each training cycle consisted of a full day of training and three three-hour discussion groups. These discussion groups combined a teaching and feedback moment and participants were expected to attend at least one of these. The discussion groups were organized at regular intervals after the day of training (approximately 1 month, 3 months and 5 months). This allowed us to continuously follow up on the data collection, to identify problems and present solutions and to get feedback from the professionals. Barriers to further application of the instrument were identified and fine-tuned accordingly. During the last discussion group of each cycle, preliminary data and conclusions were discussed.

Data collection for Stage II (Phase 1 and 2) took place between December 2018 and December 2019. Table 2 provides an overview of the characteristics of the assessors from Phase 2 of Stage II.

Assessors characteristics during Stage II