Implementation and sustainability of best practice guidelines: a tale of three hospitals.

Objective: This study explores factors that affect the sustainable implementation of best practice guidelines (BPGs) and provides a basis for developing corresponding action strategies to promote project sustainability.

Methods: Using the NHS (National Health Service) questionnaire scoring system, surveys were conducted among nurses who implemented BPGs in three hospitals in China. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis. We adhered to the STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies.

Results: The average total score was 85.18/100, while the average scores of the process dimension, staff dimension, and organization dimension were 25.85, 45.88, and 13.45, respectively. The average score of the three dimensions was 83.12%, 87.56%, and 81.52%, respectively. This means that the three dimensions of the NHS SM had high scores and the implemented BPGs had a high likelihood of being sustained. The sustainable implementation of guidelines involves three factors: project characteristics, staff dimensions, and organizational environment.

Conclusion: Important factors that influence project sustainability include the clinical value of the project, a supportive environment provided by human resources and project infrastructure, and the degree of cooperation between interprofessional teams.

Spanish abstract: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A305.