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Table 1 List of variables: Alberta Context Tool (ACT) dimensions and non-ACT dimensions

From: Reporting unit context data to stakeholders in long-term care: a practical approach

ACT dimension*

Definition

Number of items

Score range

 Leadership1

The actions of formal leaders in an organisation (unit) to influence change and excellence in practice; items generally reflect emotionally intelligent leadership.

6

1–5

 Culture1

The way ‘we do things’ in our organisations and work units; items generally reflect a supportive work culture.

6

1–5

 Evaluation1

The process of using data to assess group or team performance and to achieve outcomes in organisations or units.

6

1–5

 Formal Interactions2

Formal exchanges that occur between individuals working within an organisation (unit) through scheduled activities that can promote the transfer of knowledge.

4

0–1

 Informal Interactions2

Informal exchanges that occur between individuals working within an organisation (unit) that can promote the transfer of knowledge.

9

0–1

 Social Capital1

The stock of active connections among people. These connections are of three types: bonding, bridging, and linking.

6

1–5

 Structural Resources3

The structural elements of an organisation (unit) that facilitate the ability to assess and use knowledge.

7

0–1

 Organisational Slack in Use of Staff1

Cushion of actual or potential staff resources that allows an organisation (unit) to adapt successfully to internal pressures for adjustments or to external pressures for changes.

3

1–5

 Organisational Slack in Use of Time1

Cushion of actual or potential time resources that allows an organisation (unit) to adapt successfully to internal pressures for adjustments or to external pressures for changes.

4

1–5

 Organisational Slack in Use of Space1

Cushion of actual or potential space resources that allows an organisation (unit) to adapt successfully to internal pressures for adjustments or to external pressures for changes.

2

1–5

Non-ACT dimensions†

   

 Instrumental Research Use2

The use of observable research-based practices when caring for residents (i.e. practice may be guided by guidelines, protocols, routines, care plans, or procedures that are based on research).

1

1–5

 Conceptual Research Use2

Thinking about research-based knowledge and then using it to inform clinical decision-making.

5

1–5

 Job Satisfaction1, 5

A global satisfaction measure that reflects affective components (i.e. feelings about one’s job).

3

1–5

 Time Rushed During Care4

The feeling of having been rushed when carrying out necessary care tasks for residents in the last shift (e.g. bathing/toileting residents).

7

0–7

 Time Leaving Care Tasks Undone4

Not providing residents with necessary care tasks due to a lack of time in the last shift (e.g. providing mouth care for residents, toileting residents).

10

0–10

Non-ACT dimensions Covariates†

   

 Age

Indicate age group in years; Age group (e.g. <20 years, 20–24 years, 25–29, etc)

  

 Sex

Indicate male or female

  

 English as a first language

Asked to indicate if English is their first language Yes or No

  

 High school completion

Asked to indicate if they completed high school Yes or No

  

 Burnout6

Emotional exhaustion

3 items

0–6

Cynicism

3 items

0–6

Job efficacy

3 items

0–6

 Unit type

Type of unit in the nursing home (e.g. general, secure, other)

  

 Number of beds

Total number of resident beds in the nursing home

  

 Owner-operator model

Public not for profit, private for profit, or voluntary not for profit

  
  1. *Adapted with permission from Song et al. 32
  2. †Non-ACT variables included in the TREC survey—developed by the TREC research team unless otherwise indicated
  3. 1Response scale: 1—strongly disagree; 2—disagree; 3—neither agree or disagree; 4—agree; 5—strongly agree; overall score: mean of items
  4. 2Response scale: 1—never; 2—rarely; 3—occasionally; 4—frequently; 5—almost always; scoring: recoded to 0= no interaction; 0.5= occasional interaction; 1= interaction (take count of recoded scores)
  5. 3Response scale: 1—never; 2—rarely; 3—occasionally; 4—frequently; 5—almost always; 6—not available; scoring: recoded to 0= no use of resource; 0.5 occasional use of resource; 1= use of resource (take count of recoded scores)
  6. 4Response scale: 1—yes; 2—no (response no recoded to 0; overall score is sum of items)
  7. 5Measured with the Michigan Organizational Assessment Questionnaire Job Satisfaction Subscale
  8. 6Measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)- General (short-form) 7-point response scale (never to daily)