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Purpose Management and leadership in health care are described as complex and challenging, and the span of control is known to be a key component in the manager's job demands. The implementation of change can be a challenge in health care, and managers often have roles as implementation leaders. Little attention has been given to how managers perceive the process of implementation. Thus, this study aims to explore second-line managers' perceptions of, prerequisites for and experiences from the implementation of changes in their manager's work conditions. Design/methodology/approach A grounded theory-based qualitative design was used. Data were collected from a purposive sample of nine second-line managers by individual semi-structured interviews. The three stages of initial coding, focus codes and axial coding were used in data analysis. Findings Three thematic areas were identified: engagement, facilitation and achievement. The second-line managers' descriptions suggest that the change work entails a complex challenge with an unclear result. Involvement, consideration for the context and facilitation are needed to be able to conduct a cohesive implementation process. Originality/value This study findings outline that to succeed when implementing change in complex organizations, it is crucial that managers at different levels are involved in the entire process, and that there are prerequisites established for the facilitation and achievement of goals during the planning, implementation and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Nurses' working conditions are important for their well-being at work and for their ability to provide patients with safe care. Self-efficacy can influence employees' behaviour atwork. Therefore, it is valuable to study self-efficacy levels to medical asepsis in relation to working conditions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between nurses' assessed self-efficacy levels to medical asepsis in care situations and structural empowerment, work engagement and work-related stress. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a correlational design was conducted. A total of 417 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses at surgical and orthopaedic units responded to a questionnaire containing: the Infection Prevention Appraisal Scale, the Conditions ofWork Effectiveness Questionnaire-II, the UtrechtWork Engagement Scale-9 and the Health& Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool. Correlational analyses and group comparisons were performed. RESULTS: The nurses rated high levels of self-efficacy to medical asepsis in care situations. The correlational analyses revealed that correlation coefficients between structural empowerment, work engagement, work-related stress and selfefficacy to medical asepsis were 0.254-0.268. Significant differences in self-efficacy were found in the grouped working conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that nurses rated high self-efficacy levels to medical asepsis and, to some extent, this seemed related to structural empowerment, work engagement and work-related stress. This valuable knowledge could enable improvements at the managerial and organisational levels, benefiting both nurses and patients in the long run.

Aim The aim was to study how first-line managers act to make structural empowerment accessible for nursing staff and furthermore to relate these observations to the manager's and their nursing staff's descriptions regarding the staff's access to empowering structures. Background Staff access to empowering structures has been linked to positive workplace outcomes. Managers play an important role in providing the conditions for structural empowerment. Method Five first-line managers were observed for two workdays. Managers and staff (n = 13) were thereafter interviewed. Field notes and interviews were analysed using directed content analysis. Results The managers displayed intentional actions that could enable their staff access to empowering structures. Managers and staff described the importance of staff's access to empowering structures. Conclusion Staff who perceive to have access to structural empowerment have managers who are present and available. Unanimity among managers and staff existed in regard to the importance of staff having access to structural empowerment. The managers work continually and intentionally, doing many things at the same time, to provide the staff access to empowering structures. Implications for Nursing Management The study shows the importance of promoting managers' awareness of staff's access to structural empowerment and maximizing managers' presence and availability to their staff.

Aims and objectives To investigate healthcare personnel's working conditions in relation to risk behaviours for organism transmission. Background Healthcare personnel's behaviour is often influenced by working conditions that in turn can impact the development of healthcare-associated infections. Observational studies are scarce, and further understanding of working conditions in relation to behaviour is essential for the benefit of the healthcare personnel and the safety of the patients. Design A mixed-methods convergent design. Methods Data were collected during 104 h of observation at eight hospital units. All 79 observed healthcare personnel were interviewed. Structured interviews covering aspects of working conditions were performed with the respective first-line manager. The qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently and given equal priority. Data were analysed separately and then merged. The study follows the GRAMMS guidelines for reporting mixed-methods research. Results Regardless of measurable and perceived working conditions, risk behaviours frequently occurred especially missed hand disinfection. Healthcare personnel described staffing levels, patient-level workload, physical factors and interruptions as important conditions that influence infection prevention behaviours. The statistical analyses confirmed that interruptions increase the frequency of risk behaviours. Significantly higher frequencies of risk behaviours also occurred in activities where healthcare personnel worked together, which in the interviews was described as a consequence of caring for high-need patients. Conclusions These mixed-methods findings illustrate that healthcare personnel's perceptions do not always correspond to the observed results since risk behaviours frequently occurred regardless of the observed and perceived working conditions. Facilitating the possibility for healthcare personnel to work undisturbed when needed is essential for their benefit and f

Purpose: Dignity and well-being are key aspects of the legislation and policies that regulate care of older persons worldwide. In addition, care of older persons should be person-centred. Dignity and well-being are described as results of person-centred care (PCC). The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of important aspects for older persons to experience dignity and well-being in residential care facilities (RCFs). Design/methodology/approach: This study had a qualitative approach, and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 older persons living in RCFs. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Findings: To experience dignity and well-being older persons emphasized the importance of preserving their identity. To do this, it was important to be able to manage daily life, to gain support and influence and to belong to a social context. However, the findings indicate a need for improvements. Practical implications: Insights into older persons’ experiences of important aspects for experiencing dignity and well-being in RCFs can be used by first-line managers and registered nurses when designing improvement strategies to promote PCC. Originality/value: Dignity and well-being are described as results of PCC. The findings provide an understanding of what older persons perceive as important for experiencing dignity and well-being in RCFs. The findings are useful when designing improvement strategies to promote PCC.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate healthcare personnel's working conditions in relation to risk behaviours for organism transmission. BACKGROUND: Healthcare personnel's behaviour is often influenced by working conditions that in turn can impact the development of healthcare-associated infections. Observational studies are scarce, and further understanding of working conditions in relation to behaviour is essential for the benefit of the healthcare personnel and the safety of the patients. DESIGN: A mixed-methods convergent design. METHODS: Data were collected during 104 h of observation at eight hospital units. All 79 observed healthcare personnel were interviewed. Structured interviews covering aspects of working conditions were performed with the respective first-line manager. The qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently and given equal priority. Data were analysed separately and then merged. The study follows the GRAMMS guidelines for reporting mixed-methods research. RESULTS: Regardless of measurable and perceived working conditions, risk behaviours frequently occurred especially missed hand disinfection. Healthcare personnel described staffing levels, patient-level workload, physical factors and interruptions as important conditions that influence infection prevention behaviours. The statistical analyses confirmed that interruptions increase the frequency of risk behaviours. Significantly higher frequencies of risk behaviours also occurred in activities where healthcare personnel worked together, which in the interviews was described as a consequence of caring for high-need patients. CONCLUSIONS: These mixed-methods findings illustrate that healthcare personnel's perceptions do not always correspond to the observed results since risk behaviours frequently occurred regardless of the observed and perceived working conditions. Facilitating the possibility for healthcare personnel to work undisturbed when needed is essential for their benefit

Background In times where hospitals are struggling with recruitment as well as keeping their current workers healthy and willing to stay on, it is important to identify factors that can help work organizations in their work of providing conditions for a good work environment and for a leadership that promotes health and development. Objective The aim was to study how first-line managers act at units where the staff has rated their access to empowering structures as high and to describe this together with the first-line managers' and their staff's descriptions regarding the staff's access to empowering structures by using Kanter's theory of structural empowerment as a framework. Method A descriptive design with a qualitative approach collecting data using both observations and interviews. The study sample consisted of five first-line managers (FLM) and 13 staff members, at hospital units in different parts of Sweden, where the staff had rated their access to empowering structures as high using the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire – II (CWEQ II) in a previous data collection. Both the first and last author conducted 80 hours of observations, following each FLM during two workdays, and 15 hours of interviewing both the FLMs and staff members. Fieldnotes of what the FLMs were doing were taken during the observations. On the third day at the unit, interviews were conducted with the FLM and two or three out of their staff. The interviews were semi-structured with questions related to the observations and questions inspired by Kanter’s theory. Data from both MP3 files and notebooks were transferred into a Word document and directed content analysis informed by Kanter’s theory was performed on the material as a whole. Results Preliminary results from the ongoing analysis indicate that findings in both the observations and interviews often confirm and support each other.

Background: The wearing of gloves is included in the standard principles for preventing healthcare associated infections. A continued wearing of gloves may, however, result in the transmission of organisms instead of preventing infections. Few studies have explored how common it is for surfaces to be touched by potentially contaminated gloves. Methods: Secondary analysis of field notes from 48 hours of unstructured observations of healthcare personnel's actions during patient care. The new focus was on to what extent healthcare personnel wore gloves that should have been removed or changed, what sur-faces were touched by contaminated gloves and what patient-related activities were involved. Results: A continued wearing of gloves occurred in about half of the observed episodes of patient care. On average, 3.3 surfaces were touched by contaminated gloves. The surfaces most frequently touched were 'unused single-use items', 'equipment controls/switches/ regulators/flush buttons' and 'bed linen'. This occurred mostly while helping patients with 'personal hygiene', when performing 'test taking' or during procedures involving the operation of medical or other 'equipment'. Conclusion: The continued wearing of gloves during patient-related activities carries the risk of organism transmission, as the gloves touch many surfaces. The most critical moments seem to be when the use of gloves is considered essential. A better under-standing of the motivators of improper glove-use behaviour is needed to develop inter-ventions that rectify the improper use of gloves.

Aim: To explore the perceptions of infection control practices among healthcare personnel and evaluate the use of authentic vignettes as a means to alter infection control behavior. Method: Four authentic vignettes were used as a part of reflective dialogues with healthcare personnel. An evaluation of the dialogues was performed with six healthcare personnel using the focus group technique. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The mind-set to help one another and do one's best in every situation was described as a core aspect in preventing the transmission of microorganisms. Having support, taking personal responsibility, being knowledgeable about infection control practices, and having a reasonable workload were seen to play decisive roles in controlling the spread of infection. Discussing authentic comprehensible vignettes with colleagues during the allotted time was considered a valuable method for improving infection control practices. Conclusion: Meaningful insights on how best to use vignettes as a means to improve infection control practice were gained. These findings should be considered when designing theory-driven interventions in different contexts, which are aimed at improving infection control practices in health care.

Aim: To explore the perceptions of infection control practices among healthcare personnel and evaluate the use of authentic vignettes as a means to alter infection control behavior. Method: Four authentic vignettes were used as a part of reflective dialogues with healthcare personnel. An evaluation of the dialogues was performed with six healthcare personnel using the focus group technique. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The mind-set to help one another and do one’s best in every situation was described as a core aspect in preventing the transmission of microorganisms. Having support, taking personal responsibility, being knowledgeable about infection control practices, and having a reasonable workload were seen to play decisive roles in controlling the spread of infection. Discussing authentic comprehensible vignettes with colleagues during the allotted time was considered a valuable method for improving infection control practices. Conclusion: Meaningful insights on how best to use vignettes as a means to improve infection control practice were gained. These findings should be considered when designing theory-driven interventions in different contexts, which are aimed at improving infection control practices in health care.

Background: To understand healthcare personnel's infection prevention behaviour has long been viewed as a key factor in preventing healthcare-associated infections. Suboptimal hand hygiene compliance and handling of materials, equipment, and surfaces present the main risks for potential organism transmission. Further exploration is needed regarding the role of context-specific conditions and the infection prevention behaviours of healthcare personnel. Such knowledge could enable the development of new intervention strategies for modifying behaviour. Aim: To describe risk behaviours for organism transmission in daily care activities over time. Methods: Unstructured observations of healthcare personnel carrying out patient-related activities were performed on 12 occasions over a period of 18 months. Findings: Risk behaviours for organism transmission occur frequently in daily care activities and the results show that the occurrence is somewhat stable over time. Interruptions in care activities contribute to an increased risk for organism transmission that could lead to subsequent healthcare-associated infection. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at reducing the risks of healthcare-associated infections need to focus on strategies that address: hand hygiene compliance; the handling of materials, equipment, work clothes and surfaces; the effects of interruptions in care activities if they are to alter healthcare personnel's infection prevention behaviour sufficiently.

Bakgrund Den svenska äldreomsorgen blir allt mer ansträngande att arbeta inom. Stora organisa-toriska förändringar har lett till att arbetet upplevs som oroligt och stressfullt. Den administrativa rollen har ökat och första-linjens chefers möjligheter att delta i det dagliga arbetet har minskat. För att klara av de allt högre krav som ställs är det viktigt att cheferna känner att de har goda strukturella förutsättningar (empowerment), handlingsutrymme och känner att de har kontroll över sitt arbete. Syfte Att beskriva manliga första-linjens chefers upplevelser av sin arbetssituation i äldreomsorgen. Metod Semi-strukturerade intervjuer gjordes med fjorton manliga första-linjens chefer i äldreomsorgen i Sverige från hösten 2010 till våren 2011. Intervjuguiden var inspirerad av teorier om empowerment. Tolv chefer arbetade inom kommunal äldreomsorg och två chefer inom privat äldreomsorg. Deltagarna valdes utifrån ett ändamålsenligt urval med förhoppningen om att ge en variation i sina skildringar. De hade arbetat som chefer mellan 0.5-35 år. Intervjuerna varade mellan 1-2.5 timmar och materialet analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Två teman och fem subteman skapades. Resultat Det första temat handlade om när organisatoriska krav var i balans med chefernas upplevda chefsansvar och strukturella förutsättningar. Där beskrevs upplevelserna av att vara ensam men inte utelämnad, att ha frihet inom givna ramar samt en känsla av tillfredsställelse och stimulans i arbetet. Det andra temat handlade om när organisatoriska krav var i obalans med chefernas upplevda chefsansvar och strukturella förutsättningar. Detta tema beskrev chefernas känsla av frustration och en känsla av uppgivenhet. Sammantaget upplevde de manliga första-linjens cheferna att arbetssituationen var både utmanande, komplex och föränderlig. Cheferna behövde bättre tillgång till strukturella förutsättningar, speciellt i form av resurser, stöd och information. Utmaningarna sågs dock som en ständig drivkraf

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: In this study, the aim was to understand health care personnel's expectations and experiences of participating in an intervention aimed at the implementation of three assessment scales for fall injuries, malnutrition and pressure ulcers, and the performance of preventive measures in these areas over the period of 18 months. BACKGROUND: Fall injuries, malnutrition and pressure ulcers among older people are challenging issues for caregivers at different levels in the health care system. DESIGN: A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was used to follow health care personnel before, during and after implementation of a care prevention intervention. METHODS: Twelve health care personnel with different professions at the hospital, primary care and municipal care levels participated in a preventive care introduction. Seminars were held at four occasions, with assignments to be completed between seminars. Lectures and group discussions were performed, and three risk assessment scales were introduced. The participants were interviewed before, during and after the introduction. Manifest and latent content analysis were used. RESULTS: The main results are presented in the theme 'Patient needs are visualised through a gradually developed shared understanding' and in five categories. The work approach of performing three risk assessments simultaneously was perceived as positive and central to ensuring quality of care; it was not, however, perceived as unproblematic. CONCLUSION: The participants as well as health care team members showed a positive attitude towards and described the advantages of being given opportunities for shared understanding to improve patient safety and to provide structure for the provision of good care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The managerial approach of listening to and acting on issues stressed by health care personnel is important to ensure ongoing and future improvement initiatives.

BACKGROUND: In Sweden the national fundamental values for care of older people state that care should ensure that they can live in dignity and with a sense of well-being. Our hypothesis was that a caregiver intervention targeting the national fundamental values would improve perceived empowerment, person-centered climate and life satisfaction among older people living in residential facilities. METHODS: The study was a cluster-randomized controlled trial with a pre- and one post-test design, conducted in 27 units (17 study units) at 12 residential facilities for older people in five municipalities in central Sweden. The units in each municipality were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. The caregiver intervention was carried out using an interpretative approach with eight guided face-to-face seminars, where self-reflection and dialogue were used. Data were collected using questionnaires. The number of residents was 43 (78 %) in the intervention group and 37 (71 %) in the control group. The Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-tests were performed to detect differences between groups and Wilcoxon signed rank tests to explore differences in change over time within groups. Furthermore, generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to study effects of the intervention controlling for clustering effects. RESULTS: Primary outcome measures were empowerment, person-centered climate and life satisfaction. In the intervention group, improvements at follow-up were found in residents' self-reported empowerment (n = 42; p = 0.001, Median difference 4.0, 95 % CI 1.5;6.0), person-centered climate (n = 42; p ≤0.001, Median difference 8.0, 95 % CI 4.5;11.4) and life satisfaction regarding the factor quality of everyday activities (n = 40; p = 0.033, Median difference 9.7, 95 % CI 1.0;21.9) while disempowerment decreased (n = 43; p = 0.018, Median difference -1.3, 95 % CI -2.0;0.0). In the control group person-centered climate decreased (n = 37; p = 0.002, Medi