Selecting and tailoring implementation strategies for deimplementing fall prevention alarms in US hospitals: a group...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement
• Patient safety research
• Implementation science

Background:

• Fall prevention alarms are widely used in hospitals despite limited evidence of effectiveness.
• Deimplementing ineffective interventions is crucial for optimizing patient care and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and select strategies for deimplementing fall prevention alarms.
• To gather stakeholder feedback for tailoring deimplementation strategies to local hospital contexts.

Main Methods:

• Group concept mapping (GCM) involving 90 hospital staff across 13 hospitals to brainstorm and rate deimplementation strategies.
• Site-specific focus groups with 192 hospital staff across 22 hospitals to discuss practices, barriers, and facilitators.
• Development of tailored implementation packages based on GCM and focus group findings.

Main Results:

• Key strategies identified include revising staff roles (e.g., mobility technicians) and policies for tailored fall precautions.
• Stakeholder feedback highlighted site-specific relevance and local barriers/facilitators for deimplementation.
• Tailored packages incorporated core strategies (e.g., facilitation, education) and site-specific approaches.

Conclusions:

• Study findings provide a foundation for future programs and policies focused on deimplementing fall prevention alarms.
• Evidence-based deimplementation strategies can improve hospital safety and efficiency.