Navigating change - managers' experience of implementation processes in disability health care: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Implementation Science
• Disability Services

Background:

• Effective implementation of new practices is crucial in healthcare organizations for patient care.
• Managerial experience significantly impacts implementation outcomes but is under-researched, especially in disability healthcare.
• Understanding managers' perspectives is key to improving the transfer of new practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore managers' experiences during the implementation of new practices in disability healthcare settings.
• To identify factors influencing the implementation process from a managerial viewpoint.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured telephone interviews with 23 managers in Swedish disability healthcare organizations.
• Strategic selection of managers from public and private sectors across four administrative regions.
• Analysis using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach.

Main Results:

• Two key themes emerged: 'Contextual factors' (internal/external conditions, culture, attitudes) hindering or enabling implementation, and 'Leadership in the winds of change' (balancing tasks, employee participation).
• Workplace culture, employee attitudes, and openness to change were significant contextual factors.
• Effective leadership involves balancing managerial duties with change management and employee involvement.

Conclusions:

• Leadership support and organizational structure are vital for successful practice implementation in disability care.
• Fostering an organizational culture that supports change is essential for positive outcomes.
• Focusing on contextual factors and leadership strategies can enhance implementation processes.