Do parents understand emergency department discharge instructions? A survey analysis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Health Communication
• Patient Education

Background:

• Effective understanding of discharge instructions is vital for optimal patient healing.
• The emergency department (ED) environment can present challenges to clear communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess parental comprehension of ED discharge instructions.
• To identify factors influencing parental understanding of these instructions.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to parents of children discharged from two pediatric facilities (urban tertiary care and suburban level II).
• Questionnaire assessed demographics, anxiety levels, physician explanation quality, and recall of diagnosis/treatment.
• Data analyzed using statistical software.

Main Results:

• High levels of understanding for diagnosis (72-78%) and treatment (82-87%) instructions were observed.
• No correlation found between understanding and parental demographics, anxiety, or visit time.
• Medical terminology used by staff was the primary barrier to comprehension.

Conclusions:

• Parental understanding of ED discharge instructions is generally good.
• A significant minority (approx. 20%) experience comprehension deficits.
• Recommendations include using lay terminology, employing a dedicated discharge nurse, and providing written information sheets.