To Örebro University

Background: The implementation of interventions in clinical practices is a challenge across healthcare settings, particularly in the field of habilitation. To improve access to research-based treatment, there is a need to understand and explain factors affecting the implementation of interventions. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify, appraise and synthesise staff experience of the implementation of interventions for adults with congenital disabilities into a comprehensive overview.

Method: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, we conducted a search using the Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstract, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) and Web of Science databases. To be eligible, studies had to have collected data (qualitative or quantitative) that specifically addressed the implementation process.

Findings: Of the 5430 studies initially retrieved, eight met the inclusion criteria. Staff-identified barriers and facilitators, as well as strategies and outcomes, were grouped into three themes: (1) conditions for implementation, (2) acceptability of interventions and (3) approach for change. The most commonly cited barriers and facilitators were organisation structure and culture, financial and personnel resources, relevance of interventions, and communication and collaboration.

Conclusions: When implementing an intervention, it is necessary to consider barriers and facilitators across all three identified themes to increase the likelihood of implementation success. The compiled results of the included studies provide insights that further our understanding of implementation and our knowledge of the influence of factors on the implementation of interventions within habilitation settings. This review highlights knowledge gaps and areas for future study in the context of habilitation implementation.