Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Nov 25, 2024
Date Accepted: Aug 29, 2025
Understanding the Current and Future States of Behavioural Supports Ontario: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study Protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) was created in 2010 in Ontario, Canada to support older adults living with responsive behaviours in long-term care homes, hospitals, and at home, and to also support these older adults’ family care partners. There are 14 different BSO regions in Ontario, each with their own service delivery model. This pilot study will focus on the Western Ontario region, which is comprised of four different BSO regions, which will allow for comparison between different BSO service delivery models.
Objective:
The aim of the study is to understand how BSO impacts patients/residents, care partners, and service providers, in an effort to better meet their needs.
Methods:
Following a two-phase mixed methods sequential explanatory design, this study will invite BSO staff and leaders to complete an anonymous online survey followed by focus groups and interviews to share their perspectives on BSO’s current functioning, areas of weakness, and opportunities for growth. Family care partners will also be invited to complete interviews to share information about their experiences with BSO, areas of weakness, and opportunities for growth. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to identify similarities and differences in perspectives of BSO staff and leaders across the four BSO regions. Qualitative data will be analyzed through descriptive coding and thematic analysis to provide meaningful explanation of BSO staffs’, leaders’, and family care partners’ experiences with the program. This study was approved by the Western University Health Sciences Research Ethics Board (ID: 124599).
Results:
Data collection for the Phase 1 anonymous survey concluded in October 2024; a total of 360 participants completed the anonymous survey. Data collection for the Phase 2 focus groups & individual interviews is expected to conclude in December 2024.
Conclusions:
Study findings will support improvements to BSO services across the West Region in Ontario, and will be leveraged to support future funded research applications. Clinical Trial: This study is not registered
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