TY - JOUR
T1 - Organisational Culture in Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
AU - Etherton-Beer, Christopher
AU - Venturato, L.
AU - Horner, B.J.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background: Organisational culture is increasingly recognised as important for provision of high-quality long-term care. We undertook this study to measure organisational culture in residential aged care facilities in two Australian states. Methodology/Principal Findings: Cross-sectional observational study in 21 residential aged care facilities in Western Australia (n = 14) and Queensland (n = 7), Australia. Staff and next-of-kin of residents participated. Measurement comprised surveys of facility staff and residents' next-of-kin, and structured observation of indicators of care quality. Staff tended to rate organisational culture positively. Some qualitative feedback from staff emphasised negative perceptions of communication, leadership and teamwork. Staffing levels were perceived as a dominant challenge, threatening care quality. Direct observation revealed variability within and between facilities but suggested that most facilities (n = 12) were in the typical range, or were quality facilities (n = 8). Conclusion: There was scope to strengthen organisational culture in participating aged care facilities. © 2013 Etherton-Beer et al.
AB - Background: Organisational culture is increasingly recognised as important for provision of high-quality long-term care. We undertook this study to measure organisational culture in residential aged care facilities in two Australian states. Methodology/Principal Findings: Cross-sectional observational study in 21 residential aged care facilities in Western Australia (n = 14) and Queensland (n = 7), Australia. Staff and next-of-kin of residents participated. Measurement comprised surveys of facility staff and residents' next-of-kin, and structured observation of indicators of care quality. Staff tended to rate organisational culture positively. Some qualitative feedback from staff emphasised negative perceptions of communication, leadership and teamwork. Staffing levels were perceived as a dominant challenge, threatening care quality. Direct observation revealed variability within and between facilities but suggested that most facilities (n = 12) were in the typical range, or were quality facilities (n = 8). Conclusion: There was scope to strengthen organisational culture in participating aged care facilities. © 2013 Etherton-Beer et al.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0058002
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0058002
M3 - Article
C2 - 23505450
VL - 8
SP - 7pp
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 3
ER -