March 22, 2012
View Full PaperStandardized Discharge Planning Assessments
Key Result
Adding a standardized discharge planning assessment to usual care significantly reduced patient-reported unmet needs (P=0.01) and problems complying with discharge instructions (P=0.04).
Structured PICO
Does a standardized discharge planning assessment reduce patient-reported problems and unmet needs after discharge in hospitalized adult patients?
P
Population
260 adult patients enrolled while hospitalized to evaluate the addition of a standardized discharge planning assessment to usual care.
I
Intervention
Standardized discharge planning assessment added to usual care by staff nurses
C
Comparator
Usual care by staff nurses
O
Outcome
Patient-reported problems and unmet needs after dischargepatient reported
Adding a standardized discharge planning assessment to usual care reduces patient-reported unmet needs and problems complying with discharge instructions.
Main Result
p-value: p=.01
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to determine whether a difference exists in patient-reported problems and unmet needs after discharge when a standardized discharge planning assessment is added to usual care by staff nurses. Two groups of 130 adult patients were enrolled while hospitalized. The intervention group patients reported fewer unmet needs (P = .01) and had fewer problems complying with their discharge instructions (P = .04). Standardizing discharge planning assessments by staff nurses may improve identification of continuing care needs.