Investigation of the Optimal Length of Discharge Summaries in Care Transitions: A Cross-sectional Study

Discharge summaries are essential documents that support continuity of care during patient transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings. They help ensure that crucial clinical information is conveyed accurately and completely. However, while their clinical significance is well established, there is little consensus on the optimal format, particularly in terms of length and structural clarity. Excessively brief summaries may omit key details, while overly lengthy ones can hinder efficient information transfer. Despite varied suggestions in the literature-ranging from half a page to four pages-empirical data on physician preferences are limited.

We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey among physicians who attended a medical symposium focused on transitional care. Participants were asked to indicate their preferred length for A4-sized (approximately 210 × 297 mm) structured discharge summary document. Additional data on demographics and clinical practice settings were also collected. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses.

A total of 46 physicians completed the survey. The majority (91.3 %) had over 10 years of clinical experience and primarily practiced in outpatient hospital or clinic settings. Two A4 pages was the most preferred length (67.4 %), followed by one page (17.4 %) and three pages (10.9 %).

A structured discharge summary of approximately two A4 pages is generally preferred for care transitions, although the optimal length may vary depending on patient complexity and clinical context. Future research should investigate the ideal format, taking into account provider needs, patient engagement, and the integration of artificial intelligence.