Understanding and leveraging the role of networks and network actors in the implementation of practice change innovations in Ontario's long term care homes

Issues involving the introduction, learning and embracing of new knowledge, innovation or practice change in healthcare are critical as the innovation impacts the quality of service and care of patients. My work focuses on long-term care (LTC), a sector that has historically faced its own unique challenges in moving research knowledge into practice. LTC was the epicentre of the COVID-19 crisis in Ontario during the first 2 waves where at least 300 long-term care facilities had logged outbreaks and 7000 seniors had died in LTC homes from COVID-19, representing over 80% of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada. The proposed project co-developed with Perley Health will focus on identifying the relational aspects of knowledge uptake and application, in addition to the barriers and methods of overcoming barriers to the implementation of infection prevention and control guidelines in LTC homes during the COVID-19 pandemic through a social network analysis and knowledge translation lens. As part of Perley Health's Centre of Excellence Strategy, the development of a Knowledge Translation (KT) Hub was proposed in 2019. This hub aims to improve how knowledge and support is shared in the long-term care (LTC) sector. The HSI Fellow will support the organization by her direct involvement in the Hub's development, and through application of findings from her research. The proposed project is of great interest to Perley Health and its partners as it stands to contribute to: 1) the understanding of how to effectively utilize social networks to facilitate evidence-informed change in LTC; 2) generate knowledge on how social network analysis can be used to identify flexibility that can be built into networks and LTC organizations to allow for effective planning during uncertain or stressful times; 3) inform future research and health policy development in LTC communities in Ontario and across Canada; and 4) advance the practice and science of knowledge translation/implementation science.