Abstract

Aim: To investigate the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool in hospice home care practice

Intervention research predominantly focuses on the development and testing of interventions, and normally fails to consider how evidence-based interventions may subsequently be successfully translated into regular practice. Beneficial interventions therefore often fail to be fully adopted. This mixed-methods project investigates the factors associated with successful implementation of the CSNAT within hospice home care.

Participating services: 37. Training is provided for 2-3 staff for each service who will then act as ‘CSNAT champions’ within their service. Champions are subsequently supported through Skype meetings and web resources.

Data collection: quantitative survey of all staff within each service at baseline to measure perception of CSNAT and service context (incl. culture, leadership, evaluation, resources, interactions (using Alberta Context Tool); repeat survey of all staff at six month follow up to measure perception of CSNAT. Qualitative telephone interviews with champions at 3 and 6 months to explore perceptions of CSNAT and barriers and facilitators to its implementation. Outcome data collection: number of CSNAT assessment conducted relative to number of new patients over a 6 month period (level of adoption).

Four services will be purposively selected for further qualitative in-depth interviews with key stakeholders. Analysis will consider how quantitative variables relate to level of adoption in each service complemented by in-depth information from qualitative interviews.