A preliminary qualitative exploration of perceived barriers and facilitators prior to implementation of a pressure injury prevention program in home care: perspectives of care managers in Japan.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore care managers' (CMs) perceptions of potential barriers and facilitators to implementing a pressure injury (PI) prevention program within Japan's home care system. Methods: A pilot qualitative study was conducted using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to guide data collection and analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five CMs employed at a home-based long-term care support facility (October 2022-March 2023). Two researchers independently coded the transcripts, reached consensus through discussion, and conducted member checking to enhance rigor. Results: A total of 32 facilitators and 32 barriers were identified across five CFIR domains. Key facilitators included the program's perceived ease of use and its potential to enhance multidisciplinary communication. Frequently perceived barriers included uncertainty regarding the program's effectiveness, insufficient knowledge and low perceived urgency regarding PI prevention among CMs and chief CMs, excessive workload, and limited resources. As participants had no prior experience implementing the program, these findings reflect anticipated perceptions rather than actual implementation experiences. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary observations regarding potential facilitators and barriers to implementing a PI prevention program in home care settings. Future research is required to further examine these perceptions and explore whether similar barriers and facilitators are observed in other settings and populations.