Perceptions about Compliant Flooring from Senior Managers in Long-Term Care

ABSTRACT This study explored barriers and facilitators to adoption of compliant flooring as a fall injury prevention strategy within long-term care from the perspective of 18 long-term care senior managers. In-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the Framework Method. The most important organizational facilitators to adoption were potential for injury prevention and long-term care staff's openness to change. The most important organizational barriers to adoption were negative effects to long-term care staff and financial considerations (i.e., cost and lack of funding). The most important general organizational considerations were uncertainties about clinical effectiveness, effects on long-term care staff, and flooring performance. Overall, compliant flooring was viewed positively for long-term care. The findings also suggest an opportunity for knowledge translation to inform long-term care senior managers about the existing evidence on compliant flooring.