Key result
Nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up interventions improved patient satisfaction but did not show improvement in patient readmission or mortality across 10 reviewed studies.
Why the study?
Adverse postdischarge outcomes, readmissions, and self-management issues impact patient well-being and healthcare systems, prompting an evaluation of nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up call interventions.
Do nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up calls improve patient outcomes in discharged patients?
Systematic Review (n=10)
Do nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up calls improve patient outcomes in discharged patients?
Nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up calls improve patient satisfaction and may help meet communication needs, though they do not significantly reduce readmissions or mortality.
Nurse-led TFU may cut postdischarge problems and raise satisfaction; extends support for routine integration in discharge protocols.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the quantitative and qualitative literature on the impact of nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up (TFU) call interventions on patient outcomes. BACKGROUND: Adverse patient outcomes such as postdischarge problems, premature contact with health systems, inability to self-manage conditions and hospital readmissions all have an impact on the health and well-being, and satisfaction of patients as well as a financial impact on healthcare systems. DESIGN: A mixed-study systematic review. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic search of CINAHL, Ebsco, PubMed, Quest and Cinch-Health databases was undertaken using the key terms "nurs*," "nurse-led," "nurse initiated," "discharge," "hospital," "telephone," "follow-up" and "telephone follow-up" to identify relevant original peer-reviewed studies published between 2010-2016. Ten articles were selected for inclusion. The selected papers were critically appraised. A sequential explanatory approach with a convergent synthesis was used to report findings following PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: The findings demonstrate that nurse-led TFU interventions have the potential to improve patient outcomes. The studies suggest patient satisfaction with TFU is one of the strongest positive outcomes from the interventions. However, the results do not support improvement in patient readmission or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Of the 10 studies reviewed, only two were methodologically strong limiting the conclusions that can be drawn from the current research on this topic. Telephone follow-up interventions improve patient satisfaction and have the potential to meet patient information and communication needs, improve self-management and follow-up appointment attendance and reduce postdischarge problems. Further research is required to explore patients' perceptions of the most useful content of TFU calls, the efficacy of TFU calls and nurses' perceptions and experiences of conducting TFU interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: When conducted by a nurse, these interventions have the potential to enhance postdischarge care to patients and meet care needs. Patients perceive TFU as acceptable and are satisfied with this form of postdischarge care.
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Woods et al. (2019) conducted a systematic review in Postdischarge (n=10). Nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up (TFU) calls was evaluated on Patient outcomes including satisfaction, readmission, and mortality. Nurse-led postdischarge telephone follow-up interventions improved patient satisfaction but did not show improvement in patient readmission or mortality across 10 reviewed studies.