Parental strong agreement that their child was healthy enough for discharge was associated with a lower 30-day unplanned readmission rate (4.4% vs 11.3%; OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.6, P=0.004).
Observational (n=348)
No
Is parent perception of their child's health at discharge associated with the risk of unplanned 30-day readmission?
Parental perception that their child is healthy enough for discharge is strongly associated with a reduced risk of 30-day unplanned readmission.
Effect estimate: OR 0.2 (95% CI 0.1, 0.6)
Absolute Event Rate: 4.4% vs 11.3%
p-value: p=0.004
OBJECTIVE: To describe parent perceptions of their child's hospital discharge and assess the relationship between these perceptions and hospital readmission. DESIGN: A prospective study of parents surveyed with questions adapted from the care transitions measure, an adult survey that assesses components of discharge care. Participant answers, scored on a 5-point Likert scale, were compared between children who did and did not experience a readmission using a Fisher's exact test and logistic regression that accounted for patient characteristics associated with increased readmission risk, including complex chronic condition and assistance with medical technology. SETTING: A tertiary-care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 348 parents surveyed following their child's hospital discharge between March and October 2010. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge. RESULTS: There were 28 children (8.1%) who experienced a readmission. Children had a lower readmission rate (4.4 vs. 11.3%, P = 0.004) and lower adjusted readmission likelihood odds ratio 0.2 (95% confidence interval 0.1, 0.6) when their parents strongly agreed (n = 206) with the statement, 'I felt that my child was healthy enough to leave the hospital' from the index admission. Parent perceptions relating to care management responsibilities, medications, written discharge plan, warning signs and symptoms to watch for and primary care follow-up were not associated with readmission risk in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Parent perception of their child's health at discharge was associated with the risk of a subsequent, unplanned readmission. Addressing concerns with this perception prior to hospital discharge may help mitigate readmission risk in children.
Berry et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Pediatric hospital discharge (n=348). Parent strongly agreed child was healthy enough to leave vs. Parent did not strongly agree was evaluated on Unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1, 0.6, p=0.004). Parental strong agreement that their child was healthy enough for discharge was associated with a lower 30-day unplanned readmission rate (4.4% vs 11.3%; OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.6, P=0.004).