Key result
Older adults comprehend only ~41% of ED medication discharge instructions, lagging behind self-care and follow-up.
Why the study?
Discharged older adults have variable understanding of emergency department discharge instructions, which may contribute to adverse health outcomes.
What is the proportion of older adults comprehending emergency department discharge instructions across different domains?
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
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Supports targeted ED discharge interventions for older adults; leaves open which domains and strategies warrant priority trials.
Meta-Analysis
What is the proportion of older adults comprehending emergency department discharge instructions across different domains?
Older adults discharged from the ED have poor comprehension of medication instructions compared to self-care and follow-up, highlighting a priority area for intervention.
Haimovich et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Emergency department discharge. Emergency department discharge instructions was evaluated on Proportion comprehending instructions on medications (95% CI 31%-50%). Older adults discharged from the ED demonstrated 41% comprehension of medication instructions (95% CI 31%-50%), which was lower than comprehension for self-care (81%) and routine follow-up (76%).
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