Parents' perceptions and needs of children's hospital discharge information

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Patient Communication
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Effective discharge information is crucial for pediatric patient care continuity.
• Parents are key stakeholders in their child's post-hospitalization recovery.
• Understanding parental perceptions of discharge information can improve healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore parents' perceptions of hospital discharge information for their children.
• To identify key elements of effective and ineffective discharge communication.
• To inform improvements in pediatric discharge planning and information provision.

Main Methods:

• Two linked descriptive qualitative studies were conducted.
• Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from parents (n=19 total).
• Qualitative content analysis was applied to interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Parents value both verbal and written discharge information.
• The use of plain language is essential for understanding.
• Inconsistent messaging from healthcare teams can cause confusion.
• Parents require information tailored to their specific child and situation.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers should prioritize clear, consistent, and individualized discharge communication.
• Integrating plain language and multimodal information delivery enhances parental comprehension.
• Addressing parental needs for specific information improves post-discharge care and outcomes.