Effectiveness of Synchronous Postdischarge Contacts on Health Care Use and Patient Satisfaction : A Systematic Review...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Clinical Effectiveness Research
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Postdischarge contacts (PDCs) are a common strategy after hospitalization.
• The effectiveness of PDCs in reducing acute care utilization remains uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of PDCs on 30-day emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions.
• To assess the effect of PDCs on patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized trials of PDCs within 7 days of discharge.
• Searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL from 2012 to May 2023.
• Assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence using GRADE framework.

Main Results:

• Included 13 studies (11 randomized trials), mostly involving telephone contacts.
• No significant differences were found in 30-day ED use (5 RTs) or 30-day hospital readmissions (7 RTs) with PDCs.
• Moderate certainty of evidence for both outcomes.

Conclusions:

• PDCs within 7 days of discharge are not associated with reduced 30-day ED use or readmissions.
• Universal PDCs may not be effective; multifaceted interventions for higher-risk patients may be needed to decrease acute care utilization.