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Testing nursing home iatrogenesis
1Department of Family Medicine, Brown University, Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket, RI 02860.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Most temporary nursing home residents successfully return home. This study found few residents failed to return, and reasons for not returning were not linked to iatrogenesis (harm caused by medical treatment or advice).
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Many nursing home residents are admitted for short-term rehabilitation with the expectation of returning to the community.
- The concept of iatrogenesis suggests that healthcare interventions can inadvertently cause harm or impede recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the discharge status of "temporary" nursing home residents.
- To determine the extent to which these residents failed to return to the community.
- To identify reasons for residents not returning home, specifically examining the role of iatrogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of discharge data for "temporary" residents over six years.
- Content analysis of resident histories to understand reasons for not returning home.
- Categorization of reasons for failure to return to the community.
Main Results:
- Out of 419 residents, 79 were initially expected to return to the community.
- Only 16% (12 residents) of those expected to return did not.
- Reasons for not returning included personal choice, family decisions, rapid health decline, and other factors not attributed to institutional care.
Conclusions:
- The study's findings do not support the notion of iatrogenesis as a significant factor in temporary nursing home residents failing to return home.
- Most residents admitted for short-term stays successfully reintegrated into the community.
- Factors influencing discharge success are complex and multifactorial, extending beyond the institutional environment.