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Identifying intensive care unit discharge planning tools: protocol for a scoping review
Henry T Stelfox1, Laure Perrier, Sharon E Straus
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services-Calgary Zone, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
BMJ Open
|April 9, 2013
Summary
This scoping review identifies intensive care unit (ICU) discharge planning tools and their evidence. It aims to improve patient care transitions and reduce adverse events during ICU discharge.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare delivery
- Patient safety
- Quality improvement
Background:
- Transitions of care are critical periods with risks of errors and adverse events.
- Discharge from intensive care unit (ICU) to hospital wards is a high-risk transition.
- Existing literature highlights significant risks, including readmission and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and identify existing ICU discharge planning tools.
- To evaluate the evidence supporting these tools.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to their effective use.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search for ICU discharge planning tools and supporting evidence.
- Inclusion of research and non-research literature on decision-making and communication tools.
- Independent review of abstracts and full-text articles by two investigators.
Main Results:
- Identification of various ICU discharge planning tools.
- Assessment of supporting evidence, including adverse events and patient-reported outcomes.
- Analysis of barriers and facilitators impacting tool implementation.
Conclusions:
- Synthesized literature on ICU discharge planning tools provides a foundation for improving care.
- Identified gaps in evidence highlight areas for future primary research.
- The review supports a program to standardize and enhance ICU discharge quality.
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