Enhanced person profiles: a cluster randomised trial protocol for Swiss long-term care facilities

Abstract

Abstract Background Family participation and teamwork are crucial components of person-centred dementia care in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and are therefore widely recommended. However, these often remain ad hoc and staff-dependent in LTCF settings. Robust evidence on reproducible whole-team models for family participation and their impact on the quality of life of people with dementia is limited. The person profile is a complex intervention that has been tested under randomised controlled trial conditions, but family participation and teamwork were identified as weak areas in this intervention. Consequently, we developed the enhanced person profile. This programme incorporates clinical tools for routine family participation and psychological safety methods that enhance teamwork, ultimately aiming to improve the quality of life of people with dementia. Methods We will conduct a two-period, two-sequence cluster randomised crossover trial in 20 LTCFs in German-speaking Switzerland with 260 people with dementia. Each period will last 7 months, separated by a 1-month washout. Clusters will follow one of two sequences (intervention → usual care or usual care → intervention). The primary outcome will be proxy-rated quality of life (QUALIDEM). Secondary outcomes will comprise symptoms and concerns (Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale for People with Dementia (IPOS-Dem)), person-centred care (Person-Centred Practice Inventory – Staff Short Form (PCPI-S SF)), perceived family participation (FICS-T), and teamwork (Team Climate Inventory (TCI); unit). Our analyses will be carried out using linear mixed-effects models under the intention-to-treat principle, accounting for clustering and repeated measures. A mixed-methods process evaluation will be employed to examine implementation, mechanisms, and context, with qualitative follow-up exploring sustainability. Discussion This trial, embedded in routine LTCF care, will assess the effects of the enhanced person profile on the quality of life of people with dementia and determine its mechanisms of action as well as implementation requirements for large-scale adoption. Trial registration This trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00041653). The Berne Cantonal Ethics Committee (lead committee) reviewed and approved the protocol and study documents, including the consent forms, educational materials, and electronic case report forms (BASEC-ID: 2026 − 00761).