Abstract
The pilot study aimed to measure treatment burden in older adults diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions transitioning from a skilled nursing facility to home. This population has significant variations in the health outcomes, such as high readmission rates, after discharge from the skilled nursing setting. Treatment burden is associated with ineffective self-management of chronic conditions, a major factor driving preventable 30-day readmissions in this population. We hypothesized this population experiences a high level of treatment burden. The study design was a prospective, two time-point, cohort design utilizing convenience sampling from one skilled nursing facility in Northeast, Ohio. Seventy-four men and women answered self-report questions measuring treatment burden at two time points: prior to discharge and 30-days after discharge. Analysis of study data demonstrated that the sample experienced a moderate level of treatment burden after discharge home (M= 37.01; SD= 24.45). T-test analysis determined treatment burden was not statistically different between time points (p>.05). Multivariate analysis (adjusted R2= .23, F(9,64)= 3.45, p =.002) explained 23% of treatment burden’s variance 30-days after transition home, with the severity of multiple chronic conditions (standardized beta coefficient= .33, p= .019) and the presence of a caregiver (standardized beta coefficient= -.34, p= .004) predicting treatment burden. Study findings were contrary to our hypothesis of this population being at risk for high treatment burden. Findings did indicate that pre-discharge screening for treatment burden in a skilled nursing facility may be beneficial to this population by identifying areas of self-management need before being discharged home.