Implementation of Reference Framework for Preventive Care for Older Adults: Cross-sectional Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Primary Care Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The Hong Kong Government introduced the Reference Framework (RF) for Preventive Care for Older Adults to guide evidence-based primary care.
• No prior studies systematically assessed the awareness or adoption of this RF among primary care physicians (PCPs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore PCPs' perceptions of the RF.
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing the RF's adoption in Hong Kong's primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional qualitative study involving interviews with 40 PCPs in Hong Kong.
• Analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), examining five key domains.

Main Results:

• Facilitators included perceived relative advantage (65%), innovation design (45%), and access to information (70%).
• Key barriers were policy/legal concerns (73%) and resource availability (73%), alongside complexity and time constraints.
• Physicians recognized the RF's value but noted challenges in personalization and workflow integration.

Conclusions:

• The RF shows potential for improving older adult preventive care but faces systemic, organizational, and individual adoption barriers.
• Successful integration necessitates flexible implementation, institutional support, tailored incentives, and enhanced engagement.
• Findings offer insights for policymakers and practitioners, contributing to CFIR literature within Hong Kong's context and informing strategies for Asian populations.