Individualized daily schedules for hospitalized adolescents with cystic fibrosis

This article describes the effects of an individualized patient schedule on satisfaction and clinical outcomes for patients with cystic fibrosis admitted to an adolescent unit.

Data on airway clearance treatments, physical therapy attendance, and school attendance were collected for patients who used the individualized schedule and for historic controls. Patients who were admitted following implementation of the schedule were asked to complete a brief survey about their inpatient care shortly before or after hospital discharge.

Patients who used the schedule were more likely to report that their care was often or always delivered exactly as they expected and to believe that they were involved in care decisions as much as they wanted to be. Eighty-seven percent believed that using the individualized schedule made their stay a little or much better compared to past hospitalizations. There was no change in physical therapy, airway clearance, and school attendance.

Engaging hospitalized adolescents with cystic fibrosis in the design of their individualized daily schedule is a win-win proposition, resulting in improved satisfaction while maintaining clinical outcomes.