Process evaluation of the response of nursing homes to the implementation of the dementia-specific case conference concept WELCOME-IdA: A qualitative study

Contextualizing the results of an integrative review on the characteristics of dementia-friendly hospitals: a workshop with professional dementia experts

BACKGROUND

To become a dementia-friendly hospital (DFH) is increasingly being discussed in health care practice, research, politics and society. In our previous integrative review, we identified six characteristics of DFHs. To thoroughly discuss and contextualize these characteristics in relation to hospitals in Germany, we involved professional dementia experts in our review process.

METHODS

At the end of our review process, we involved professional dementia experts at the 'contributing' level of the ACTIVE framework to discuss and reflect on the six DFH characteristics we identified. We conducted a group process in the form of a one-day workshop. The workshop consisted of four steps: 1. presentation of review results (input), 2. modification of DFH characteristics and rating of their relevance in smaller working groups, 3. discussion of group results in plenary and 4. questionnaire for prioritization and rating of feasibility. The data were analyzed in MAXQDA using content analysis and descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 16 professional dementia experts working in hospitals participated in the workshop. All the previously identified characteristics of a DFH were rated as relevant or very relevant for patients with dementia, their relatives and health care professionals from the professional dementia experts' perspective. They made a few modifications of the six characteristics at the level of subcategories, aspects, and descriptions. The feasibility of the characteristics in hospitals was critically discussed regarding resources, hospital structures and processes, the role of nurses, and the current care situation of people with dementia in hospitals. More than half of the subcategories of the characteristics were considered very difficult or difficult to implement by most professional dementia experts.

CONCLUSION

The involvement of professional dementia experts helped us contextualize our review findings within the German hospital setting. These results highlight the need to consider resources, funding options, influencing factors, and the current situation and culture of care provided by hospitals before implementing DFH characteristics. Beside the involvement of professional dementia experts and various health care professionals, the involvement of other stakeholders, such as people with dementia and their relatives, is necessary in future research for the development of a DFH.

Types of implementation of the dementia-specific case conference concept WELCOME-IdA in nursing homes: a qualitative process evaluation of the FallDem effectiveness trial

Background

Dementia is regularly associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD, also referred to as challenging behavior). Structured dementia-specific case conferences (DSCCs) enable nursing staff in nursing homes (NHs) to analyze and handle the BPSD of residents with dementia. The FallDem trial estimated the effectiveness of the structured DSCC intervention WELCOME-IdA (Wittener model of case conferences for people with dementia – the Innovative dementia-oriented Assessment tool) in NHs in Germany. No significant change in the overall prevalence of challenging behavior was found. A multipart process evaluation was conducted to explain this result.

Methods

This qualitative process evaluation of the response of individuals, perceived maintenance, effectiveness, and unintended consequences was part of the multipart process evaluation that followed the framework by Grant et al. (Trials 14: 15, 2013). It used the data from semi-structured telephone interviews and focus group interviews with nurses and managers as secondary data. Selected domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were used as deductive categories for a directed content analysis.

Results

The interviewees in all NHs appraised WELCOME-IdA as generating positive change, although it proved important that some adjustments were made to the intervention and the organization. Thirteen CFIR constructs out of the domains intervention characteristics, inner setting, and process proved to be essential for understanding the different course that the implementation of WELCOME-IdA took in each of the four NHs. This is reflected in three types of WELCOME-IdA implementation: (1) priority on adjusting the intervention to fit the organization, (2) priority on adjusting the organization to fit the intervention, and (3) no setting of priorities in adjusting either the organization or the intervention.

Conclusion

The unsatisfying results of the FallDem effectiveness trial can in part be explained with regard to the interplay between the intervention and the implementation which was revealed in the processes that occurred in the organizations during the implementation of the WELCOME-IdA intervention. Future implementation of WELCOME-IdA should be tailored based on an analysis of the organization’s readiness, resources, and capacities and should also define custom-made intervention and implementation outcomes to measure success. Furthermore, our results confirm that the CFIR can be used beneficially to conduct process evaluations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43058-021-00191-0.

Implementation of a complex intervention to improve hospital discharge: process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To study the implementation of a cluster randomised controlled effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial testing the effectiveness of a medication review at hospital discharge combined with a communication stimulus between hospital physicians (HPs) and general practitioners (GPs) on rehospitalisation of multimorbid older patients.

DESIGN

Extension of Grant's mixed method process evaluation framework to trials with multilevel clustering.

SETTING

General internal medicine wards in Swiss hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience samples of 15 chief physicians (of 21 hospitals participating in the effectiveness trial), 60 (74) senior HPs, 65 (164) junior HPs and 187 (411) GPs.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Two-hour teaching sessions for senior HPs on a patient-centred, checklist-guided discharge routine.

PROCESS EVALUATION COMPONENTS

Data collection on recruitment, delivery and response from chief physicians (semistructured interviews), senior HPs, junior HPs, GPs (surveys) and patients (via HPs). Quantitative data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and interviews analysed using thematic analysis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Intervention dose (quantitative), implementation fidelity (qualitative), feasibility and acceptability, facilitators and barriers, implementation support strategies.

RESULTS

Recruitment of hospitals was laborious but successful, with 21 hospitals recruited. Minimal workload and a perceived benefit for the clinic were crucial factors for participation. Intervention dose was high (95% of checklist activities carried out), but intervention fidelity was limited (discharge letters) or unknown (medication review). Recruitment and retention of patients was challenging, partly due to patient characteristics (old, frail) and the COVID-19 pandemic: Only 612 of the anticipated 2100 patients were recruited, and 31% were lost to follow-up within the first month after discharge. The intervention was deemed feasible and helpful by HPs, and the relevance of the topic appreciated by both HPs and GPs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this evaluation will support interpretation of the findings of the effectiveness study and may inform researchers and policy makers who aim at improving hospital discharge.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN18427377.