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Adoption of evidence into practice: can change be sustainable?
Author(s) -
Cockburn Jill
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb05951.x
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , sustainability , behaviour change , context (archaeology) , behavior change , psychology , population , theory of change , environmental change , medicine , environmental health , social psychology , nursing , climate change , economics , management , geography , ecology , archaeology , biology
Few studies have monitored change in professional practice over time to determine the sustainability of change. Research from other behavioural change literature shows that initial change is difficult to maintain, with reported relapse rates as high as 80%. Interventions most likely to succeed are based on a clear understanding of target behaviours and the environmental context. Facilitators and barriers are usually multifaceted and occur at a number of interrelated levels. The issue targeted for intervention must be clearly defined at the outset, so that antecedents, determinants and supporting mechanisms can be defined, suggesting points for intervention and strategies for initial and sustainable change. The target population's readiness to change is an important factor at both an individual and organisational level. In most cases, a combination of different interventions will be needed to achieve lasting change.