Exploring perceived control and self-rated health in re-admissions among younger adults: A retrospective study

Although health promotion calls for patient empowerment, it is not integrated in reducing re-admissions. This study examines the link among patient perceived control, self-rated health and fewer hospital re-admissions.

An empirical explorative retrospective cross-sectional study with 208 respondents aged 40-65 with poor health and identical health plans. All measures hold good psychometric properties.

Self-rated health was strongly related to fewer re-admissions. Perceived control moderated the relationship between self-rated health and fewer re-admissions. Perceived control and self-rated health, together, contributed 5.2% to the variance in re-admissions.

Perceived control and perceived health status each explained a different share of the variance of re-admissions. Together, these perceptions reduced re-admissions by .40. Patient-clinician communication upon discharge may be a new direction to reduce re-admissions, improve delivery of care and promote health.

To reduce re-admissions, managements need to invest in restructuring the patient discharge process. A physician-patient dialogue shaping patient perceptions about their health status, perceived room for health improvement, and available internal and external resources may make a difference. Findings stress the need to allocate more time and resources for discharge communication processes and for physician training on psycho-social skills that may empower patients upon discharge.