Effectiveness of multifaceted and tailored strategies to implement a fall-prevention guideline into acute care nursing practice: a before-and-after, mixed-method study using a participatory action research approach

H.E. Breimaier*, R.J.G. Halfens, C. Lohrmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Research- and/or evidence-based knowledge are not routinely adopted in healthcare and nursing practice. It is also unclear which implementation strategies are effective in nursing practice and what expenditures of time and money are required for the successful implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). The aim in this study was to assess the effectiveness and required time investment of multifaceted and tailored strategies for implementing an evidence-based fall-prevention guideline (Falls CPG) into nursing practice in an acute care hospital setting.

Methods: A before-and-after, mixed-method design was used within a participatory action research approach (PAR). The study was carried out in two departments of an Austrian university teaching hospital and included all graduate and assistant nurses. Data were collected through a questionnaire, group discussions and semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were content-analysed using a template based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), which also served as a theoretical framework for the study. Quantitative data were descriptively analysed using appropriate tests for independent groups.

Results: By applying multifaceted and tailored implementation strategies, the graduate and assistant nurses' knowledge on fall prevention, how to access the Falls CPG and the guideline itself increased significantly between baseline and final assessment (p

Conclusions: Multifaceted strategies tailored to the specific setting within a PAR approach and guided by the CFIR enabled the effective implementation of a CPG into acute care nursing practice. Nursing managers now have sound knowledge of the time resources required for CPG implementation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number18
Number of pages12
JournalBMC Nursing
Volume14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Participatory action research
  • Before-and-after design
  • Effectiveness
  • Implementation strategies
  • Guidelines
  • Nursing
  • Fall prevention
  • HEALTH-CARE
  • CONSOLIDATED FRAMEWORK
  • KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION
  • CLINICAL GUIDELINES
  • NURSES
  • DISSEMINATION
  • INTERVENTIONS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • DESIGN
  • STAFF

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