Difficulty of implementing kinaesthetics in long-term care institutions - A multiple case-study

Background: Resources have been invested from long-term care institutions for the development of nursing staffs' kinaesthetics competence for years. Recent studies have shown that implementing or sustainably promoting the kinaesthetics competence is problematic, but in-depth knowledge of the causes thereof is lacking. Aim: Which barriers impede a sustainable implementation of kinaesthetics in long-term care institutions? Method: A "multiple case-study" was carried out in three institutions located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. The data from guide-based interviews and (case-related) literature on the external context was inductively condensed in the within-case analysis. The results were then compared in the cross-case synthesis and summarized in an abstract way. Results: The synthesis showed that the implementation of kinaesthetics can be influenced negatively at three different institutional levels - management, nursing team and individual nursing staff - as well as by external factors. Conclusions: In nursing practice and nursing science, as well as in the health care sector, a basic understanding of kinaesthetics in the context of professional nursing care is required. Especially those responsible for management and implementation must be aware of possible barriers in order to develop appropriate strategies.