The implementation of an aged care context-specific digital decision support tool to enable best-practice.

The project identified practical strategies to support successful implementation of DSTs in aged care, including ensuring easy access to resources, using local champions, and providing ongoing training and reminders. The pilot implementation provided evidence of how these strategies supported uptake and use of the tool in practice. Staff viewed the DST as a practical and valuable resource for supporting clinical decision-making. Staff reported that the tool helped them think through procedures more systematically, increased confidence when managing unfamiliar or complex situations, and encouraged a more person-centred approach to the procedure. Staff also reported that the tool was easy to follow, supported clinical reasoning, and could help reduce the risk of clinical incidents. Pre-post survey results showed improved capability, opportunity, and motivation, suggesting the DST helped staff to use evidence-based guidance when making clinical decisions.   

The resources developed through this project have relevance beyond a single clinical procedure or organisation. The project resulted in an easy-to-use DST to help staff with key considerations for safely inserting a urinary catheter, as well as a “playbook” that guides aged care organisations on how to co-design and implement their own DSTs. While the catheter insertion DST was designed specifically for Bolton Clarke and would require local adaptation for use elsewhere, the playbook provides a transferable approach that can be used across the aged care sector.  

Organisations can apply the playbook to identify their own practice challenges, work with staff to co-design solutions, and implement DSTs that support consistency, safety and person-centred care. In this way, the project offers a practical approach to strengthening evidence-based practice and supporting quality improvement across aged care services. The playbook will be publicly available on the Bolton Clarke website.  

Bolton Clarke plans to expand the use of the urinary catheterisation DST across its services and develop additional DSTs in areas where data and feedback highlight opportunities to improve safety, quality and consistency of care.