Table 3

Key implementation and evolution factors using Grol and Wensing's Characteristics of Innovations Framework [32].

Characteristic of Innovation ~Degree to which innovation provides or is:
Promoting Factor for SMA Implementation
Hindering Factor for SMA Implementation
Addressing the Issues to Facilitate Implementation and Sustainability

Relative advantage or utility over existing or other methods
Advantage of seeing several experts at same time, especially for behavioral barriers
No clear evidence; questioned value and whether patients would accept group format
Proved not to be a major issue

Compatibility with existing norms and values
Consistent with norm and values of achieving process measures
Inconsistent with norm and value of sacred primary care provider-patient relationship; Different roles of healthcare professionals filling in-difficult switching from traditional to multidisciplinary team approach
Had a few team building and motivational interviewing learning sessions-lecture versus facilitation of patient info

Complexity of explaining, understanding and using

Too vague and many unknowns; not easy to explain
Explain and sell it and take advantage of a trial period with small numbers of patients to highlight success and have observers (it was easier for providers to see it first hand)

Costs relative to benefits and level of investment

Efficacy questioned regarding clinical physiological outcomes and uncertain level of investment for various stakeholders
1. Reorganizing flow allowed up to 18 patients to be seen in one SMA



2. Change in way patient data distributed in order to reduce prep time of Clinical Pharmacist and overall cost



3. Introduced use of templated notes that included documentation of SMA activities at a general group level and also permitted individualized patient level documentation

Risks related to uncertainty regarding results and consequences

High-risk – no conceptual model for designing or plan for diffusion
The organizational culture supported risk taking

Flexibility, adaptability to situation/needs of local context/target group
Vagueness provided options for adapting to local context and needs
Key non-flexible components not consistent with micro-system and mesosystem silo design
Recognition of additional patient needs prompted addition of a nutritionist to the team

Involvement of target group in development
High involvement of the core team only
Existing structure impeding additional staff involvement
Unanticipated impact on staff not involved feeling left out addressed by creating opportunities for these staff to observe and get feedback/up dates

Divisibility so able to try out parts separately

Low divisibility of shared appointments (i.e., can't try out various parts)
Unable to address; we have kept the basic model of SMAs

Trialability, reversibility without risk if doesn't work
High and approached as a trial period

Because of early successes, this proved not to be a major issue

Visibility, observability of results by other people
High – part of local culture is feedback
High – part of local culture is feedback
Patient successes led to increased referral of patients close to performance measure goals overloading the clinic and prompting the redirection of resources

Centrality of impact on daily working routine

High
Impact of patients' stories has contributed to team finding meaning in their work, negating the effects of the changes in work routine

Pervasiveness, scope, impact on total work, people involved, time it takes and relationships

High: fear more work and would jeopardize primary care provider-patient relationships
Proved not to be a major issue

Magnitude, disruptiveness, radicalness

High
The core team was made up of individuals willing to take risk and were unafraid of the potential disruption

Duration for when innovation/change must take place
Not a pressing factor



Form, physical properties of innovation: material or social; technical or administrative, etc.)

High: material change, space requirements, schedule changes, administrative and technical adjustments
Continues to provide challenges

Collective action related to decisions
Low collective action
Strong core team (3–5 members)
Unanticipated impact on staff not involved feeling left out. Some of these staff were recruited to participate in other types of SMAs where they were involved in the decision-making.

Nature of Presentation: length, clarity, attractiveness
High attractiveness
Low clarity
Began projects to share knowledge and experience with others

Kirsh et al. Implementation Science 2008 3:34   doi:10.1186/1748-5908-3-34