Key result
Review highlights preparation, readiness, and transition difficulties during hospital discharge for medically complex children.
Why the study?
Children with medical complexity require complex care that parents must independently manage at home, making adequate preparation for safe transition from hospital essential.
What are the experiences of children with medical complexity and their parents regarding discharge from hospital to home?
What are the experiences of children with medical complexity and their parents regarding discharge from hospital to home?
A thorough and planned discharge process is essential to prepare parents of children with medical complexity to confidently provide safe care at home.
Supports focus on preparation and readiness in discharges; leaves open optimal interventions for children with medical complexity.
BACKGROUND: Children with medical complexity (CMC) require complex care that parents must independently provide and manage when discharged home from hospital. It is important that parents are adequately prepared to safely transition home from hospital with their child. METHOD: A synthesis of findings from research articles was conducted to map and summarize available evidence on CMC and their parents' experiences of discharge from hospital to home. A total of 32 studies were included in this review. Thematic analysis was used to analyze and describe the data. RESULTS: The following key themes were developed during data analysis: preparation and readiness, aids for discharge, overwhelmed with the transition, frustration with time to get home, difficulties with transitions and discharge interventions. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the importance of taking steps to ensure CMC and their parents undergo a thorough and planned discharge process to prepare parents to confidently provide safe care to their children in the home. Approaches and strategies for comprehensive and safe discharge are provided.
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MacKay et al. (2025) conducted a review in Children with medical complexity (n=32). Hospital discharge process was evaluated on Parents' experiences of discharge from hospital to home. A review of 32 studies on hospital discharge for children with medical complexity identified key themes including preparation, readiness, and difficulties with transitions.
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