Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41787446›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2026

Barriers and facilitators to data-informed care planning in long-term care in Nova Scotia, Canada: a qualitative study.

Nazanin Nasiri, Michael Kalu, Mirella Veras, Parisa Ghanouni, John P Hirdes, Andrea Iaboni, Steve Iduye, Elaine Moody, Kathleen Norman, Sam Searle and 5 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Nazanin NasiriSchool of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Michael KaluSchool of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Mirella VerasDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Parisa GhanouniSchool of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
John P HirdesSchool of Public Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Andrea IaboniDepartment of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Steve IduyeRankin School of Nursing, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada.
Elaine MoodySchool of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Kathleen NormanNova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Sam SearleDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Olga TheouSchool of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Luke A TurcotteDepartment of Health Sciences, Brock University, St Catherines, ON, Canada.
Linda VerlindenMartime SPOR Support Unit Halifax, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Lori WeeksSchool of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Caitlin McArthurSchool of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, Canada. caitlin.mcarthur@dal.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLong-term care (LTC) homes in Canada provide essential care for individuals requiring ongoing support. While data-informed care planning is increasingly advocated for, its implementation remains inconsistent, limiting its potential to enhance resident-centered care. The interRAI long-term care facilities assessment (LTCF) and real-time location systems (RTLS) are two sources of routinely collected data that can inform care planning. However, how they are currently used to inform care planning and what hinders or supports their use remains unclear. We describe the current use of routinely collected data in LTC and identify barriers and facilitators to informing care planning from the perspectives of staff, residents, and family caregivers in Nova Scotia, Canada.

methodsWe employed Sally Thorne’s Interpretive Description qualitative design with purposeful sampling: 10 LTC residents, 14 family members, and 22 staff (12 nurses, 2 nursing assistants, 2 physiotherapy/occupational therapy assistants, plus one administrator, one recreational/music therapist, and one dietitian). Data collection occurred in two stages: initial interviews (individual or focus group) followed by care observations, with additional interviews as needed after observation. Each session, lasting for one hour, was audio recorded, transcribe verbatim for analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis by multiple coders.

resultsFindings revealed that while interRAI LTCF and RTLS data were available, their integration into care planning was inconsistent due to outdated admission records, data interpretation challenges, communication gaps, and staff shortages. Residents and families often lacked awareness of care plans, limiting their engagement in decision-making. However, facilitators such as incorporating residents’ social histories, leveraging RTLS to track activity patterns, ensuring regular data updates, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration improved data utilization. Enhanced training, structured implementation strategies, and tailored communication methods were identified as essential to strengthening data-informed care planning.

conclusionsAlthough routinely collected data have the potential to enhance resident-centered care planning, systemic barriers hinder their effective use in LTC settings. Addressing these challenges through targeted interventions, improved staff training, and knowledge user engagement can optimize data-driven decision-making and improve resident outcomes. Future efforts should focus on integrating digital health tools and structured implementation frameworks to maximize the benefits of data-informed care planning in LTC homes. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Long-Term CareNursing HomesPatient Care PlanningFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleNova ScotiaNursing Home ResidentsQualitative ResearchCare planningDataLong-term careReal-time location services

Identifiers

PMID41787446
PMCPMC13072555

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.