Challenges in Healthcare: Decision Support Tool for Functional Independence

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht developed the Decision Support Tool for Functional Independence (DST-FI) to address the challenges of maintaining functional independence among older adults. The tool aims to promote collaboration between healthcare professionals, enabling them to identify declines in functional independence and provide timely interventions. However, implementing the tool in primary care poses significant barriers, including limited applicability for specific client groups, time constraints, issues of ownership, and challenges in preventive outreach.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Decision Support Tool for Functional Independence (DST-FI) is designed to support interprofessional collaboration between medical and social care providers, enhancing collaboration, informed decision-making, and addressing societal pressures related to aging.
  • The study examined the barriers and facilitators to implementing the tool in primary care, involving thirteen healthcare professionals and two focus groups with older adults.
  • Key facilitators included the tool's potential to enhance collaboration, support informed decision-making, and address societal pressures related to aging.
  • Four main barriers emerged: limited applicability for specific client groups (e.g., individuals with cognitive impairments or low health literacy), time constraints, issues of ownership among stakeholders, and challenges in preventive outreach.
  • The diversity and complexity of factors influencing implementation highlight the need for multifaceted, tailored strategies.
  • The research team, led by E.A.L.M. Molenaar, emphasizes the importance of customized approaches to overcome identified barriers and explores adaptations for a broader audience.

Statistics:

  • The study involved thirteen healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, physiotherapists, practice nurses, community nurses, occupational therapists, and social workers.
  • Two focus groups with older adults were conducted as part of the study.
  • The study used a combination of deductive and inductive thematic analysis to identify and explore barriers and facilitators to implementation.
  • The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided the study.

Sources:

  • HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
  • E.A.L.M. Molenaar, Research Group Innovation of Human Movement Care, Research Center for Healthy and Sustainable Living
  • J.A. Barten, N. Bleijenberg, N.J. de Wit, C. Veenhof
  • BMC Health Services Research, 2025;25(1):849
  • BioMed Central - www.biomedcentral.com/
  • BMC Health Services Research - www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/