EXPLORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOUR TRANSITIONAL CARE INTERVENTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS: A COLLECTIVE CASE STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Four transitional care interventions, aiming to improve transitions between hospital and home settings for older adults, were implemented in Belgium. These interventions are complex in nature and their implementation in practice is often challenging. This study explores the implementation of these interventions from the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in the process, and by investigating three implementation aspects: influencing factors, strategies used, and outcomes. A retrospective qualitative collective case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with thirteen healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis was used, and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the final data interpretation. Key findings indicated that implementation barriers were mostly at the organizational level (i.e., resources, structure, networks & communication), while facilitators were at the individual level (i.e., personal attributes, champions). The prominent strategy used to implement these interventions was engagement and additional strategies were suggested for the future sustainability of the interventions (i.e., building strategic partnerships, developing policies to support transitional care). The overall implementation was perceived as favorable with high adoption as a key outcome. This study highlights the crucial role of healthcare professionals, being motivated and committed to fostering the implementation of interventions in transitional care. It is important to use implementation strategies targeting factors at both the individual level as well as the organizational level for implementing transitional care interventions in the future.