title: Organisational culture in residential aged care facilities: a cross-sectional observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organisational culture is increasingly recognised as important for provision of high-quality long-term care. We undertook this study to measure organisational culture in residential aged care facilities in two Australian states.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cross-sectional observational study in 21 residential aged care facilities in Western Australia (n = 14) and Queensland (n = 7), Australia. Staff and next-of-kin of residents participated. Measurement comprised surveys of facility staff and residents' next-of-kin, and structured observation of indicators of care quality. Staff tended to rate organisational culture positively. Some qualitative feedback from staff emphasised negative perceptions of communication, leadership and teamwork. Staffing levels were perceived as a dominant challenge, threatening care quality. Direct observation revealed variability within and between facilities but suggested that most facilities (n = 12) were in the typical range, or were quality facilities (n = 8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was scope to strengthen organisational culture in participating aged care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia. christopher.etherton-beer@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Etherton-Beer
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Venturato
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011793:Queensland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult