What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to understand the challenges faced by health professionals during patient discharge from acute hospitals.

Systems and people under pressure: the discharge process in an acute hospital

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Population

32 hospital-based health professionals in an acute hospital in England

Design

Other

Authors

Identifies barriers to patient-centered discharge; leaves open strategies to reconcile targets with individualized care needs.

This study aims to understand the challenges faced by health professionals during patient discharge from acute hospitals.
Conducted qualitative focus groups with varied health professionals in December 2006.
Three focus groups included 11 nurses, 15 allied health professionals, five social workers, and one doctor.
Data analyzed using a framework approach based on recorded discussions.
Identified conflicting pressures on staff, including hospital policies and patient needs.
Found that staff felt dehumanized, ignoring patient preferences due to system pressures.
Highlighted a lack of community services which complicates the discharge process.

Population

32 hospital-based health professionals (11 nurses, 15 allied health professionals, 5 social workers, 1 doctor) in an acute hospital in England

Outcome

Perspectives of hospital-based health professionals with regard to preparing patients for discharge

Hospital staff experience significant conflicting pressures during the discharge process, which can negatively impact patient-centered care.

Connolly et al. (2009) studied this question.

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