Table 1.
Eligible Discharge Planning Studies
| Authors | Sample | Methods | Conclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armitage S et al.5 | 29 chronic cardiology and respiratory patients | Semi-structured telephone interview; 20–90 minutes to complete; qualitative / quantitative format; completed post discharge at home (5–36 days) | Delays waiting on medication and letters No written information regarding their condition and prognosis; Short term (3 days) medication supply was not enough; Poor warning regarding discharge times given to family; Patient not prepared to manage at home |
| Atwal A6 | 9 orthopedic nurses; 6 acute medicine nurses; 4 elder care nurses | Case study design interview and direct observation study; 30–90 minutes to complete; critical incident approach format; nonparticipant approach format; 45–60 minutes to complete; completed 12 months post-discharge | Time restraints --Discharge aspects ignored, neglected and rarely co-ordinated; Handoff hindered communication |
| Bull M et al.7 | 139 congestive heart failure family caregivers | Telephone and face-to-face interviews; 40–50 minutes to complete; longitudinal design-client satisfaction (8 items) and continuity of care questionnaire (12 items); completed pre-discharge (baseline) and post discharge (2 weeks & 2 months) | Lack of involvement -- Low scores on satisfaction; Feelings of preparedness; Perception of care continuity; Less acceptance of role |
| Burkey Y et al.8 | 45 patients | Semi-structured or in-depth pilot interviews; qualitative format; completed post discharge (2 weeks & 3 months) | Discharging doctor did not know them Vague about reason for discharge, condition and future care; Patient input ignored |
| Clemens E 9 | 37 caregiver-discharge planners; 3 patient-discharge planners | Survey questionnaire & face-to-face interview; 60–90 minutes to complete; open/closed ended format; completed post discharge (1 week) | Very little or no information received; Too few choices or no choice at all |
| Clever S et al. 10 | 3123 patients | Face-to-face interview & surveys; 15 minutes & 10 minutes completion time; qualitative format (30 items) & quantitative format (20 items 5-point scale); completed pre-discharge (baseline) & post discharge (1 month) | Positive relationship between overall satisfaction and overall ratings of physicians’ communication behaviors |
| Tyson S et al. 11 | 55 stroke patients; 176 general practitioners, hospital doctors, therapists and nurses | Patient satisfaction and staff opinion surveys (postal); Likert (13 items, 4 point scale); completed post-discharge (0–6 weeks) | Dissatisfied – Poor level of service; Poor communication between staff and patient/caregivers; Liaison between staff, and narrow focus of rehabilitation; Support received from community services; Information received |
| Tennier L et al. 12 | 81 clinicians; 15 mangers/administrators | Generic and social worker questionnaires (internal mail) & face-to-face interview; 30 minutes to complete; descriptive design; completed post discharge (0–2 weeks) | Discharge date not predicted in advance; Lack communication, coordination documentation, clear hospital policy and palliative and long term care resources; Community resources expensive and not often inaccessible to families; Patient and family not adequately informed; Failure to include patient and family |
| Watts R et al. 13 | 12 registered nurses | Semi-structured face-to-face interviews; 30–40 minutes to complete; qualitative (open ended) format; completed post discharge (2 weeks) | Communication between nursing and medical staff either enhanced or impeded; Different level of involvement perceived; Discharge plan inconsistent |
| Watts R et al. 14 | 218 critical care nurses | Semi-structured interview; 30–40 minutes to complete; explorative descriptive approach (qualitative - open ended 31 items) | No agreement on how to define discharge planning (“next level of care”); Discharge process not well understood; Discharge education needed |