Here is the standardised PICO analysis for the forty-first uploaded article:
Full Title
Facilitating Staff Adoption of New Policies and Procedures in Aged Care Through Training for Readiness for Change
Authors: Kathryn M. von Treuer, Marita P. McCabe, Gery Karantzas, David Mellor, Anastasia Konis, Tanya E. Davison
Journal: Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2022; 41(1): 54–61
Type of Study
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) conducted in 16 Australian residential aged care facilities
PICO Summary
Population (P)
- 129 staff members (managers, nurses, care staff, lifestyle staff) across 16 residential aged care facilities in Australia
- Facilities provided a mix of low- and high-level aged care
- Staff included both general and senior personnel (e.g. team leaders, managers)
Intervention (I)
Staff as Change Agents—Enhancing and Sustaining Mental Health in Aged Care:
- A 4-session training program focused on:
- Leadership development (transformational leadership, team cohesion, trust)
- Workplace communication and climate
- Skills for identifying and managing depression and dementia
- Delivered through psychoeducation, roleplay, discussions, reflective exercises, and action planning
- Targeted both individual readiness and organisational climate
Comparison (C)
- Waitlist-control group: facilities that did not receive the training during the study period
- Comparison across four time points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), 6-month (T3), and 12-month follow-up (T4)
Outcomes (O)
Primary outcomes: Measured using the Readiness for Organizational Change scale across four domains:
- Appropriateness of the change
- Change efficacy (confidence in ability to change)
- Management support
- Personal valence (perceived personal benefit)
Key findings (see Table 2 & Figure 1 on page 6):
- Significant improvements post-intervention in appropriateness, change efficacy, and personal valence sustained over 12 months in the intervention group
- Management support showed immediate post-training improvement but declined back to baseline at 6 and 12 months
- The control group showed either no improvement or decline in all domains across time
Findings Summary
This study demonstrates that a brief, structured training program focusing on leadership, organisational culture, and clinical knowledge (depression and dementia care) can:
- Significantly increase staff readiness for change
- Sustain gains over 12 months in three core domains (appropriateness, efficacy, and personal valence)
- However, without ongoing reinforcement, perceived management support may fade, indicating a need for booster sessions
The findings support targeted, proactive staff training as a foundational step for aged care organisations preparing to implement systemic reforms or quality improvement initiatives. It suggests that embedding leadership developmentalongside clinical upskilling helps align workforce culture with policy change.
Life In The Slower Lane 
Leave a comment