Implementing Preference-Based Communication Tools in Nursing Homes: Influence of Champions

Champions are a highly influential, yet understudied, aspect of evidence-based implementation in the nursing home setting. This study explored the role of nursing home champions implementing Preferences for Activity and Leisure (PAL) Cards in their community as a quality improvement project. PAL Cards are a communication tool designed to alert team members to important individual preferences. Participants included n = 35 nursing homes who identified champions to create PAL Cards for 15-20 older adults living in their community. A total of 88 monthly qualitative interviews with champions were coded using the domain "Characteristics of the Individual" from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Champions who were able to articulate the anticipated benefits of PAL Cards for their community and recruited a supportive team exhibited high implementation success.