Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the Flinders Chronic Condition Management Program in outpatient drug and alcohol settings in Australia

Introduction

There has been a growing call for drug and/or alcohol dependence to be managed as a chronic condition. The Flinders Chronic Condition Management Program (Flinders Program) was implemented in a drug and alcohol service in Australia in 2019–2022 to explore the feasibility of chronic condition management in outpatient clinics. Implementation involved: adaptation of the Flinders Program; adaptation of clinical procedures; training clinicians and managers; training Flinders Program Accredited Trainers; and system integration. This study aims to explore barriers and enablers to implementation.

Methods

A qualitative formative evaluation was undertaken. Data included implementation documents (n = 7), responses to open-ended questions in post-training surveys (n = 27), and focus groups and interviews with implementation staff, clinicians, managers and a trainer (n = 16). Data were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in a ‘coding reliability’ approach to thematic analysis.

Results

Participants responded positively to the Flinders Program's philosophy, processes, tools and training. However, barriers were identified across three Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: (i) outer setting (client suitability and incompatibility with external policies and incentives); (ii) characteristics of individuals (low self-efficacy); and (iii) inner setting (lack of system and workflow integration).

Discussion and Conclusions

Executive support and systems integration are important for the implementation of the Flinders Program in drug and alcohol services. This needs to be achieved within externally mandated key performance indicators for outpatient services. Further research is needed to fully evaluate the potential of a chronic condition management framework in Australian outpatient drug and alcohol services.