Does context really matter? A multi-site qualitative study identifying shared factors influencing the uptake of a digital fall prevention platform

Background: Patient falls remain a major concern in hospitals, leading to serious harm and significant costs. Although various fall prevention interventions exist, the factors influencing their successful implementation, especially across different hospital contexts, are poorly understood. Aim: This study applied implementation theory to explore factors affecting the implementation of the Rauland Concentric Care digital fall prevention platform in two contextually different Australian hospitals. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and small focus groups with nurses: 12 participants from four wards in a newly built 300-bed rural referral hospital, and ten participants from three wards in a 400-bed community hospital. Data were coded using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), and barrier/enabler statements were developed through consensus. The most frequently cited factors were identified and compared across sites. Results: Despite contextual differences, three common factors that influenced implementation emerged: Patient Needs and Resources (Hospital 1: n = 12; Hospital 2: n = 10), Design Quality and Packaging (Hospital 1: n = 11; Hospital 2: n = 10), and Knowledge and Beliefs About the Intervention (Hospital 1: n = 10; Hospital 2: n = 8). These findings suggest that certain factors consistently affected the implementation of the Rauland Concentric Care digital fall prevention platform across hospital settings. Conclusion: Hospitals planning to implement this digital platform may benefit from proactively addressing these three key factors. As adoption expands across Australia, future research should explore whether these findings hold true in other health care settings.