Barriers and facilitators in nursing home intervention research

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Research
• Nursing Home Studies

Background:

• Nursing home (NH) research is complex due to participant vulnerability and unique setting dynamics.
• Advanced age and frailty of residents present specific challenges for intervention studies.
• Understanding barriers and facilitators is crucial for improving NH research conduct.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze barriers and facilitators encountered during intervention research in nursing home settings.
• To provide insights for optimizing the research process within NH environments.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis and matrix analytic techniques were employed.
• Data were gathered from investigator field notes, guided interviews with research teams and NH staff, and research assistant (RA) email communications.

Main Results:

• Key barriers included poor communication between NH staff and research teams, ineffective nursing leadership, low staff-to-resident ratios, and high staff turnover.
• Facilitators involved intra-research team dynamics, such as RA flexibility and compatibility, and effective communication channels.
• The presence of strong nurse leadership within the NH significantly facilitated the research process.

Conclusions:

• Addressing identified barriers, particularly communication and staffing issues, is essential for NH research.
• Leveraging facilitators like effective teamwork and supportive leadership can enhance the success of nursing home intervention studies.
• Improving research conduct in NHs requires a focus on both systemic and interpersonal factors.