Telephone change agentry in the diffusion of a program for the elderly.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Implementing new programs in healthcare settings like nursing homes and hospitals can be challenging.
• Milieu therapy is a specific geriatric program requiring staff engagement for successful adoption.
• Effective strategies are needed to support the dissemination and adoption of evidence-based practices in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of telephone consultation on the adoption of milieu therapy in healthcare organizations.
• To determine if the number of staff receiving consultation influences program adoption and staff involvement.
• To assess the effectiveness of post-workshop telephone support for implementing geriatric programs.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial design with three groups: no consultation, one consultant, and three consultants.
• A five-day workshop on milieu therapy followed by five bi-weekly telephone consultations.
• Follow-up questionnaires administered three months post-consultation to measure program adoption and staff engagement.

Main Results:

• Telephone consultation did not significantly increase overall information dissemination regarding milieu therapy.
• Consultation involving three staff members enhanced the inclusion of diverse staff in planning groups.
• The three-person consultation group saw support for staff with lower social status taking on leadership roles.
• No significant differences were observed in the actual degree of milieu therapy program adoption across the groups.

Conclusions:

• While telephone consultation did not directly boost program adoption, involving multiple staff members in the consultation process fostered greater organizational engagement.
• Targeted consultation strategies, such as involving three individuals, can positively influence staff dynamics and participation in program planning.
• Further research may be needed to identify factors that directly drive the successful adoption of milieu therapy programs in healthcare settings.