A key effort of NEXT STEPs is to develop and share best practice resources for researchers and nursing home leaders interested in conducting or participating in clinical trials. These resources address one or more of five key areas. The list to the right includes the key areas and topics within each. If you have questions about a resource or would like to learn more, contact us.
Designing the Intervention
- Nursing home residents as an important population
- Nursing home settings as a site for clinical trials and other research
- Roles of residents, residents’ families, nursing home staff and leadership, and clinicians in research
Recruiting Nursing Homes and Participants and Cultivating Engagement
- Barriers to conducting nursing home research and related strategies
- Information to educate nursing home leaders and participants about clinical trials
- Resources to support researchers to recruit and sustain nursing home and participant involvement
Assessing Outcomes
- Examples of clinically relevant outcomes
- Available outcome measures and data sources
Ensuring Equity and Inclusion of Nursing Homes and Participants
- Characteristics of nursing home residents and nursing home case-mix
- Considerations related to equity and inclusion in research design, recruitment, and engagement
- Resources to recruit and engage diverse nursing home participants
Following Up/Following Through
- Strategies to disseminate findings
- Impact of findings on clinical practice
Common Nursing Home Research Measures
This resource provides an overview of common resident-level measures used in nursing home research such as activities of daily living, delirium, and frailty. It includes information about tools for in-person data collection, secondary data sources, and relevant references.
Conducting On-Site Research in Nursing Homes: Suggestions for Before, During, and After Your Visit
This resource for conducting on-site research in nursing homes includes various topics to consider before, during, and after a study visit, such as how to interact with staff and residents and to plan for the completion of study activities.
Conducting Research in Nursing Homes: Information for Investigators
A guide to help investigators navigate the regulatory landscape of nursing home research, with a focus on compliance with HIPAA and the Common Rule. This resource outlines when and how to use agreements such as BAAs, DUAs, and FWAs, and clarifies the role of IRB approval in supporting ethical and legally sound research partnerships with nursing homes.
Conducting Research in Nursing Homes: Information for Nursing Home Administrators
A leadership-focused framework designed to support nursing home administrators and decision-makers in evaluating and engaging with research opportunities. This resource promotes collaborative, transparent partnerships that align with resident-centered values and operational priorities. It offers key questions and discussion points to ensure research participation is meaningful, minimally disruptive, and beneficial to both residents and staff.
Key Differences between Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Hospitals
This introductory resource details organizational characteristics, available treatments, and available testing and monitoring in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and hospitals, to inform researchers as they design studies.
Norms of Engagement for Nursing Home Leaders
This resource focuses on issues for nursing home leaders to consider if they're invited to participate in research project, such as whether and how study activities fit with priorities and daily operations; benefits and risks to participation; and logistics such as paperwork, timeline, and reimbursement.
Norms of Engagement for Researchers: Part 1
As a companion to the resource "Norms of Engagement for Nursing Home Leaders," this researcher-focused resource includes issues to address during an introductory meeting with nursing home leaders, including explaining and tailoring study protocols and the feasibility and appropriateness of the study.
Nursing Home Data Sources Compendium
A comprehensive reference of available nursing home specific data sources relevant to nursing home research, including descriptions, access information, and potential use cases.
Nursing Home Data Sources Compendium Peripheral Data Sources
A comprehensive reference of available data sources that while less specific to nursing home research may still be useful. It includes data source descriptions, access information, and potential use cases.
Template: Information to Confirm Pre-Nursing Home Visit
This resource includes information to compile in advance of a site visit to a nursing home to maximize efficiency and success.
Words Matter
This resource promotes participant recruitment and engagement; focusing on terminology, it helps researchers avoid language that may unintentionally convey disrespect or unfamiliarity, and offers preferred alternatives.

