The quality effects of agency staffing in residential aged care.

Ma, N; Sutton, N; Yang, JS; Rawlings-Way, O; Brown, D; McAllister, G; Parker, D; Lewis, R

The quality effects of agency staffing in residential aged care.

Ma, N

Sutton, N

Yang, JS Rawlings-Way, O Brown, D McAllister, G Parker, D

Lewis, R

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australas J Ageing, 2022
Issue Date:: 2022-08-23

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ma, N https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0341-1003
dc.contributor.author	Sutton, N https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4413-3003
dc.contributor.author	Yang, JS
dc.contributor.author	Rawlings-Way, O
dc.contributor.author	Brown, D
dc.contributor.author	McAllister, G
dc.contributor.author	Parker, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-8613
dc.contributor.author	Lewis, R
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-14T07:02:18Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-31
dc.date.available	2022-09-14T07:02:18Z
dc.date.issued	2022-08-23
dc.identifier.citation	Australas J Ageing, 2022
dc.identifier.issn	1440-6381
dc.identifier.issn	1741-6612
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161819
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVES: In Australia, temporary agency workers are a relatively small but enduring component of the residential aged care workforce. However, evidence from other countries suggests reliance on agency workers has a detrimental effect on the quality of care (QoC). We examined whether QoC outcomes differ for Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) based on their reliance on agency care staff. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using de-identified datasets obtained under the legal authority of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Regression analysis was conducted using data comprising 6221 RACF-year observations, across 5 years (2015-2019), from 1709 unique RACFs in Australia. RESULTS: After controlling for other determinants of QoC, RACFs with a greater reliance on agency care staff have poorer QoC outcomes, with significantly higher rates of complaints, missing persons, reportable assaults, hospitalisations, and accreditation flags. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with international evidence, we found that the QoC of Australian RACFs is sensitive to the reliance on agency staff in delivering direct care to residents. These findings illustrate the importance of workers' employment conditions, alongside other workforce characteristics, in driving the quality of residential aged care.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation.ispartof	Australas J Ageing
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/ajag.13132
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences, 16 Studies in Human Society, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Gerontology
dc.title	The quality effects of agency staffing in residential aged care.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Accounting Discipline
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Centre for Health Technologies (CHT)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-09-14T07:02:17Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: In Australia, temporary agency workers are a relatively small but enduring component of the residential aged care workforce. However, evidence from other countries suggests reliance on agency workers has a detrimental effect on the quality of care (QoC). We examined whether QoC outcomes differ for Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) based on their reliance on agency care staff. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using de-identified datasets obtained under the legal authority of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Regression analysis was conducted using data comprising 6221 RACF-year observations, across 5 years (2015-2019), from 1709 unique RACFs in Australia. RESULTS: After controlling for other determinants of QoC, RACFs with a greater reliance on agency care staff have poorer QoC outcomes, with significantly higher rates of complaints, missing persons, reportable assaults, hospitalisations, and accreditation flags. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with international evidence, we found that the QoC of Australian RACFs is sensitive to the reliance on agency staff in delivering direct care to residents. These findings illustrate the importance of workers' employment conditions, alongside other workforce characteristics, in driving the quality of residential aged care.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161819