Perceived Needs of Individuals with Frailty and Their Caregivers During the Transition from Hospital to Home: Protocol of a Qualitative Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis

Background: Frailty markedly increases risk of unplanned readmission, 30-day mortality, and discontinuity of care during the transition from hospital to home. Although this transition represents a critical period for patient safety and recovery, the specific needs perceived by individuals with frailty and their caregivers at the time of discharge remain insufficiently understood. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and synthesize qualitative evidence of perceived needs by individuals with frailty and their caregivers during the transition from hospital to home. Methods: A qualitative systematic review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological guidance. Systematic searches will be performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science (WoS), Biblioteca Virtual de Salud (BVS), Scopus, and Google Scholar. All primary qualitative and mixed-methods studies with a qualitative component, published in any language and without date restrictions, will be eligible. Methodological quality will be appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. A meta-aggregative approach will be applied to extract and synthesize findings using JBI SUMARI software. Confidence in the synthesized findings will be assessed using the ConQual approach. Expected results: The results will describe the perceived needs of this population and their caregivers and will support the development of practical recommendations for transitional care. Conclusions: The findings are expected to inform person-centered transitional care practices and support the development of clinical strategies to improve continuity of care.