Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Project ImPACT in China: Views of Healthcare Professionals and Caregivers

BackgroundProject of Improving Parents as Communication Teachers (Project ImPACT), an evidence-based parent-mediated intervention (PMI), aims to enhance the developmental skills of autistic children through caregiver training. Although PMIs have been successfully implemented in various cultural contexts, their promotion in China faces many barriers and facilitators that require in-depth exploration.PurposeThis study aims to identify the potential barriers and facilitators affecting the implementation of Project ImPACT in a northern hospital in China from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and caregivers.Design and methodsThis study specifically analyzed the differing views of both groups regarding these factors during implementation and examined their relevance to the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR 2.0). This qualitative research employed focus group discussions and individual interviews with 11 healthcare professionals and 18 caregivers of autistic children to collect data. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis in conjunction with a targeted content analysis guided by the CFIR 2.0.ResultsThe findings revealed 11 barriers, 20 facilitators, and two neutral factors. Healthcare professionals tended to focus on systemic issues, while caregivers were mainly concerned with family and individual challenges.ConclusionsDespite both groups' positive attitudes towards Project ImPACT in meeting family needs, they exhibited different emphases on organizational frameworks, cultural adaptability, and specific practical strategies for implementation.