Traumatic brain injury: Patient experience and satisfaction with discharge from trauma hospital

To describe the discharge process for patients with traumatic brain injury from a trauma hospital, and patient experience and satisfaction with care transition. Furthermore, to evaluate associations between discharge process and patient satisfaction and quality of care transition.

Prospective-retrospective observational study.

Seventy-four patients admitted to ward or intensive care unit at a trauma referral hospital within 24 h of traumatic brain injury.

Baseline characteristics and discharge process variables were extracted from medical records. Patients were interviewed 6-months post-injury about their experience and satisfaction with care transition, using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Care Transition Measurement (CTM-3®) as outcome measures. Regression analyses were performed to investigate associations between discharge process and outcome.

One-third of patients were not involved in the discharge process, and information in discharge summaries was often inadequate. Patients' involvement in care transition and co-ordination of care were significantly associated with overall satisfaction (VAS, p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively) and quality of care transition (CTM-3®, p = 0.003 and p = 0.007, respectively). Patients with more severe injuries reported lower satisfaction and quality of care transition.

Patient's involvement in healthcare decision-making and co-ordination of care is important for self-reported satisfaction with transition and quality of care transition.