Readiness for Change in the Implementation of a 3D Printing Initiative in a Catalan Tertiary Hospital Using the Normalization Process Theory: Survey Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND the high failure rate of innovation projects motivates to understand the perceptions about resistances and barriers of the main stakeholders to improve success rates. OBJECTIVE this study aims at analysing the readiness for change in the implementation of a 3D printing project in a Catalan tertiary hospital, prior to its implementation. METHODS online, voluntary, and anonymous survey using the Normalisation MeAsure Development questionnaire (NoMAD) to gather views and perceptions among a selected group of healthcare professionals at Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital. RESULTS all groups of professionals involved see the value of the project and are willing to enrol and support it. Respondents show the highest scores in Cognitive Participation (4.45/5) and high scores in Coherence (3.83/5) and Reflective Monitoring (3.78/5). The weakest score is in Collective Action (3,52/5). There is no statistically relevant score differences between roles along the survey. CONCLUSIONS the 3D project implementation should pay attention to preparing, defining, sharing, and supporting the operational work involved in its use and implementation as well as to understand, assess and communicate the ways that the new set of practices affect the users and others around them. We suggest that health officers and politicians consider this experience as a solid ground towards development of a more efficient health innovation system and as a catalysator for transformation.