Variables impacting on patients' perceptions of discharge from short-stay hospitalisation or same-day surgery

The paper presents components of a study (n = 929) that was designed to examine, at one specific point in time, the hospital experience of the patient and the patient's corresponding recovery at home. Variables that captured the hospitalization and recovery experience relate to the degree of patient involvement in decisions about their treatment and discharge plans. Levels of health and recovery-related information reported by patients and their level of confidence in ability to resume regular activities once home were also measured. In general, individuals reported what many would consider having received less than optimal levels of information about their illness and recovery at home. Many patients also reported that they neither participated, nor were consulted on their needs or perceptions during their hospitalization. Expectations were that problems that patients might experience once home would have their origins in problems from within the community. However, the community resources were found to be less implicated and hospital resources more so. This suggests the importance of examining institutional issues even when one is focusing on the delivery of community services.