Evaluation of a Complex Implementation to Shape, Spread, Scale, and Sustain a New Dementia Care Resource for Better, More Integrated Care

Introduction: Researchers collaborated with experts-by-experience to create ‘Our Dementia Journey Journal’ (ODJJ), an interactive resource designed to enhance integrated care through communication and relationship building between caregivers and care providers. This study investigated how best to scale and spread the resource.

Methods: ODJJ was implemented as a pilot in three communities with seven sites. A mixed-methods multi-phase sequential design with embedded formative and outcome evaluations was used, with experts-by-experience integrated throughout.

Results: ODJJ was implemented serially in long-term care homes, First Nation communities, and South Asian communities. Implementation approaches and tools evolved through sharing experiences and tactics, with greatest uptake and use in the later sites.

Discussion: The study confirmed that ODJJ can strengthen communication and relationship building, but how it was perceived, accepted and used for integrated care differed. The cumulative results generated a spread and scale (marketing) strategy, with messaging, materials and supports to facilitate uptake and use across Canada.

Conclusion: Pilot implementation for integrated care resources with a strong, complex evaluation can lead to a detailed plan for spread and scale.