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Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
An observational study of older patients' experiences of involvement in discharge planning
Anne Snoghøj Erlang1, Karina Schjødt1, Jakob Kau Starup Linde1
1Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital.99 Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
Abstract:
The discharge of older patients is complex and healthcare professionals focus more on organizational and coordinating tasks rather than on patient involvement. The study aims to describe older medical patients' experiences of involvement in discharge planning and to identify associations between their experiences of involvement and readmissions. This observational study included 210 older medical inpatients from a Danish university hospital. Data were collected from a questionnaire survey and the patients' medical records. Involvement was measured using the subscales: information, communication, participation, time of discharge, relatives & general impression. Most participants reported receiving the overall information needed before discharge. There was a lack of specific information, regarding medicine and symptoms. Fewer participants reported positively on participation. 23.8% of the participants were readmitted within 30 days. Longer hospitalization, comorbidities and less perceived information were associated with a higher risk of readmission. There were associations between patient involvement and the 30-day readmission rate.
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