Factors that influence the implementation of innovation in aged care: a scoping review

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to identify factors that influence the implementation of innovation in aged care.

Introduction: Aged care is a dynamic sector experiencing rapid change. Implementation of innovations in aged care has received relatively little research attention compared with health care.

Inclusion criteria: This review included studies of any design that examined the implementation of innovations in aged care settings.

Methods: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, and ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection for studies published between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2022. The titles and abstracts of retrieved citations were screened by two independent reviewers. Full-text articles were screened by one reviewer to determine eligibility. Data were extracted in NVivo using a tool developed by the research team. Factors that influenced implementation were inductively coded, interpreted, and grouped into categories.

Results: Of the 2530 studies that were screened, 193 were included. Of the included papers, 74% related to residential aged care, 28% used an implementation theory or framework, and 15% involved consumers. Five key categories of factors influencing implementation were identified: organizational context, including resourcing and culture; people's attitudes and capabilities; relationships between people; the intervention and its appropriateness; and implementation actions, such as stakeholder engagement or implementation strategies.

Conclusions: Our findings can be used to develop practical resources to support implementation efforts, and highlight the importance of resourcing for successful implementation. Attention to community-based aged care and greater engagement with theory and community are needed to promote research rigor, relevance, and applicability.