Discharge planning from hospital to home for patients aged ≥65 years demonstrated a moderate overall effect size (mean d = 0.51), with large effects noted for patient satisfaction.
Meta-Analysis
Does discharge planning improve patient satisfaction, quality of life, and readmission rates in elderly patients discharged from hospital to home?
Discharge planning for elderly patients yields moderate to large improvements in patient satisfaction, quality of life, and readmission rates, though methodological reporting in existing studies is often poor.
Effect estimate: mean d = 0.51
In the present healthcare environment, budget cuts, staff shortages, and resource limitations are grave concerns. The elderly in particular consume a considerable proportion of hospital resources. Thus, the discharge planner's role, particularly with respect to elderly patients, is extremely important. In this systematic review recent (within the last 10 years) randomized, controlled or quasi-experimental trials of discharge planning (DP) from hospital to home of patients age 65 years or older were examined. The most important finding was the paucity of investigations by social work professionals. A second important finding was the lack of appropriate reporting of methods and results. Where data were provided, an effect size was computed for statistically significant results (overall mean d = 0.51, SD 0.35). Large effects were noted for patient satisfaction, while moderate effects were evident for patients' quality of life and readmission rates. The integration and evaluation of current knowledge in this field may inform further research and may lead to the advancement of clinical practice and new policy development, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of patient care and the quality of patient outcomes. The implications for social work clinicians and researchers are discussed.
Preyde et al. (Mon,) conducted a meta-analysis in Elderly patients discharged from hospital to home. Discharge planning was evaluated on Overall effect size for statistically significant results (including patient satisfaction, quality of life, and readmission rates) (mean d = 0.51). Discharge planning from hospital to home for patients aged ≥65 years demonstrated a moderate overall effect size (mean d = 0.51), with large effects noted for patient satisfaction.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: