Home alone: patient and carer uncertainty surrounding discharge with continuing clinical care needs

As a result of advances in anaesthesia and surgical procedures, increasing numbers of patients in Australia are being discharged 'early' into the home environment with residual care requirements. As many of these patients have undergone surgery that in the past would have required a period of hospitalisation and care from qualified staff lasting several days, this situation has the potential to create problems for both patients and their carers. A total of fourteen interviews were conducted with seven patient/carer dyads. Analysis identified three themes related to the uncertainty both patients and carers experienced attributed to a lack of sufficient discharge preparation and information, pointing to gaps in continuity of care and also in discharge planning and home-health care. It is suggested that the identified issues have applicability for the development of patient education in a day surgery/acute context and that the use of evidenced-based and innovative interventions among health professionals might improve both patient and caregiver outcomes.