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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
Uncertainty Dilemma and Service Demands During the Discharge Transition Period for Elderly Patients with
Xing Wu1,2, Jiahui Lv3, Yajuan Feng3
1Administrative Management Department, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
This study aims to explore the challenges and service needs faced by elderly patients with comorbidities during the transition from hospital discharge, and the study is proposing a way forward for transitioning the elderly patients with multimorbidity.
Patients And Methods:
A purposive sampling approach was employed to select 12 elderly patients with comorbidities from the geriatric departments of two tertiary hospitals in the Xinjiang region between November 2024 and March 2025. A phenomenological research design was utilized to conduct semi-structured interviews with participants. Data were analyzed using the seven-step Colaizzi method for phenomenological analysis, supported by Nvivo 15.0 software.
Results:
Three main themes and twelve subthemes were identified: (1) Support System Dilemma, (2) Guidance Needs for Discharge Information, (3) Demand for Continuous Services and Safeguards in Medical Institutions.
Conclusion:
Elderly patients with comorbidities experience multiple challenges and unmet needs during the discharge transition period. Clinically, it is essential to establish a multidisciplinary transitional care team, conduct comprehensive pre-discharge assessments, enhance system support and polypharmacy management, develop tailored discharge guidance plans to improve the quality of life during the post-discharge transition period.
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