Table 2 CHOICE Intervention Components and Functions

Education Session and Training Modules

Overview of program components and best-practices to enhance mealtime experience for residents using relationship-centred approaches. Education session was developed into training module to ensure all staff received education sessions.

45 min./home area

1 per home area or as needed for new hires/refresher for current team members

Staff Huddles and Huddle Diary

Mealtime-focused huddles scheduled during shift changeover to promote CHOICE Principles, problem-solve, record progress in huddle diaries, and facilitate communication between care staff.

5–10 min./huddle

1 x week or as needed

Visual Reminders

Posters provided weekly reminders of each CHOICE Principle for care staff and posted strategically around dining room and servery.

1 poster/week

2–3 posters per dining room or as needed

Reference Binder

CHOICE reference binder provided resources staff would need to carry out program, including program overview, huddle schedule, huddle diary sheets, and reminder posters.

1 binder/home area

As needed by care staff and leadership

MT Champion Meetings

Teleconference meetings held when CHOICE Coach not on site in order to discuss progress, identify areas for improvement, problem-solve, and identify ways to respond to MTS feedback. In-person meetings held when Coach on site.

10–20 min/home area

1 per week

Continuous Feedback

Progress reports were generated based on MTS data collected by external auditors. Reports were reviewed by the MT Champions, DFS, project coordinator, with the research team prior to being shared with the care staff and other home administrators. Reports assisted in identifying areas that had improved and/or needed improvement

Comprehensive report based on MTS Data.

Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks for each home area (missing 5th meal audit because of outbreak)

CHOICE Coach

CHOICE Coach worked closely with MT Champions and DFS to facilitate and support each component of CHOICE program and assist in tailoring components when needed. Coach provided feedback on barriers and facilitators of program components, implementation process, and important contextual factors, such as organizational climate.

In-person visit: 5–7 h per home area. MT Champion Meetings 10–20 min.

In-person visit 2 per month for 5 months for each home area. Teleconference 1 per week for 3 months.