“I think we just saw happier residents”: nursing home provider reported readiness assessment of the individualized positive psychosocial interaction (IPPI) program

Objectives: This study assessed the readiness of The Individualized Positive Psychosocial Interaction (IPPI) program in the nursing home (NH) setting from the perspective of NH providers implementing the IPPI. The evidence-based IPPI program is designed to help remediate distress and improve mood for residents living with dementia. NH staff are trained to engage residents in brief (i.e. 10-min) one-to-one, preference-based activities to alleviate emotional distress and enhance quality of life. Method: NH providers (n = 15) who championed the IPPI implementation completed an exit interview based on the nine domains of the Readiness Assessment for Pragmatic Trials (RAPT). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded by RAPT domains, then scored by the research team to reflect an average for each domain. Results: Providers rated the IPPI program’s readiness high on the domains of alignment, impact, risk, implementation protocol, evidence, cost, and acceptability. The domains of measurement and feasibility scored lower, likely due to broader contextual issues and require particular attention. Conclusion: Results illustrate that the IPPI program successfully aligns with stakeholder priorities, is a safe intervention with minimal risk, and has beneficial outcomes. The IPPI’s low cost, design, and alignment with organizational goals also facilitated implementation while measuring outcomes and staffing considerations impacted organizational capacity for implementation.