Patterns of diffusion of evidence-based clinical programmes: a case study of the Hospital Elder Life Program.
BACKGROUND
The effective translation of scientific evidence into clinical practice is paramount to improving the quality and safety of patient care. However, little is known about the patterns of diffusion of evidence-based programmes in healthcare.


OBJECTIVE
To study the pattern of diffusion of an evidence-based programme to improve the quality and safety of care for hospitalised older adults.


METHODS
The diffusion of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a multifaceted programme to reduce delirium in hospitalised adults, was examined. Using a survey of all hospitals that contacted the HELP Dissemination Project for more than 2 years, the proportion of hospitals that adopted the programme, the programme fidelity to the original design in terms of structure and process, and the perceived reasons for non-adoption were identified.


RESULTS
Programme fidelity was highest among structural features (eg, staffing levels); programme modifications were more commonplace in processes of care (eg, the participation of volunteers in patient care interventions). Senior management support and the programme expense were the most commonly cited reasons for non-adoption of HELP.


CONCLUSIONS
Diffusion and take-up rates for this evidence-based programme were substantial; however, programme fidelity was not complete and some hospitals did not adopt the programme at all. Clinicians, researchers and funding agents seeking to promote effective translation of research should be realistic about diffusion rates and recognise the critical ingredient of senior management support to propel adoption of evidence-based programmes to improve quality and safety.
Bradley
Elizabeth H
EH
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, USA. elizabeth.bradley@yale.edu
Webster
Tashonna R
TR
Schlesinger
Mark
M
Baker
Dorothy
D
Inouye
Sharon K
SK
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003693:Delirium / Q000628:therapy; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006761:Hospitals / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States