Scaling Smarter Preoperative Testing: A Multisite Evaluation of Adaptations to De-implementation Strategy Using...

Unnecessary preoperative testing before low-risk surgery contributes to excess healthcare costs, care cascades, and surgical delays. The Right-Sizing Testing Before Elective Surgery intervention is a multilevel, multicomponent intervention piloted at three hospital sites to reduce low-value testing. To understand how the de-implementation strategies could be tailored across diverse healthcare settings, we applied the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-Based Implementation Strategies (FRAME-IS) to track site-specific modifications.

The Right-Sizing Testing Before Elective Surgery intervention components included a site visit, a decision aid, implementation coaching, facilitation, and audit and feedback. From March to August 2024, the intervention was piloted at three Michigan hospitals with varied sizes, workflows, and baseline testing patterns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders after implementation. Using FRAME-IS, we analyzed interview transcripts and field notes from site visits and coaching sessions to identify and compare intervention modifications.

Using FRAME-IS, we identified nine unique modifications, varying by type, level of implementation, and rationale. Content modifications involved alternative risk-classification methods within the decision aid. Evaluation changes addressed the need for more timely or detailed data for audit and feedback. Training adaptations included case-based exercises for low adopters, and context adaptations involved repackaging printed materials. All modifications were fidelity-consistent and aligned with local infrastructure and workflows.

A multicomponent intervention can be adapted to diverse clinical settings while maintaining fidelity to its core components. These findings can inform broader de-implementation efforts by illustrating how tailoring interventions enhances alignment with local workflows, infrastructure, and organizational context.