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. 2019 May 17;22(5):863–873. doi: 10.1111/hex.12916

Table 2.

Summary of delayed hospital discharge characteristics (n = 7)

Author (year) Type of hospital(s) (n) Event resulting in hospitalization (n) Length of delayed discharge (n) Post‐hospital destination Experiences with delayed discharge
Cressman et al, (2013)18
  • Large urban teaching hospital (1)

  • Not reported (9)

  • 11‐85 d (9)

  • LTC home

  • Retirement home

  • CCC facility

  • Patients and caregivers were uncertain about their future

  • Patients had a pessimistic view of their future

Kuluski et al, (2017)19
  • Acute care and post‐acute care, rural hospitals (3)

  • Fall (5)

  • Stroke (1)

  • Cancer (1)

  • Acquired brain injury (1)

  • Mental illness (1)

  • Frailty (2)

  • Not reported (4)

  • <1 y (7)

  • 1‐3 y (4)

  • >3 y (1)

  • Not reported (3)

  • Not reported

  • Caregivers were frustrated with wait times for placement in LTC homes

  • Caregivers were dissatisfied with the lack of care provided to their loved ones during their extended hospital stay

Kydd, (2008)23
  • Not reported

  • Fall (1)

  • Not reported (13)

  • 3 mo (1)

  • 8 mo (1)

  • Not reported (12)

  • Rural care home

  • LTC home

  • Patients and caregivers were uncertain about their future

  • Patients were pessimistic of their future

  • Patients’ had limited friendships with other patients because they were cognizant that their stays should be short

  • Patients were affected by the mood of the health‐care providers and the staff caring for them

McCloskey et al, (2015)24
  • Mix of urban and rural and regional and community hospitals (3)

  • Dysphagia (1)

  • Pain (1)

  • UTI (1)

  • Cardiac (3)

  • Respiratory (2)

  • Social admission (2)

  • Fall (3)

  • Neurological (2)

  • Cellulitis (1)

  • Not reported (4)

  • Not reported (20)

  • LTC facility

  • Assisted care facility

  • Patients and caregivers became normalized to long wait times associated with delayed discharge

  • Patients and caregivers were accepting (no frustration) of having to wait for care

  • Some patients felt undeserving of clinician attention and felt they were a burden on the hospital staff

Patrick et al, (2006)25
  • Mental health hospital (1)

  • Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (7)

  • 6‐year mean (7)

  • Supported community housing

  • Congregate community living programmes

  • Some participants were fearful of being denied placement

  • Patients awaiting placement felt that the attempts to move them out of the hospital were futile

Swinkels and Mitchell, (2009)26
  • Acute care hospitals (3)

  • Not reported (23)

  • 32‐d mean, ± 26 d (23)

  • Home

  • Nursing home

  • NHS Care

  • Patients were disillusioned with their extended hospital stay

  • Patients were disengaged from discharge planning processes

Wilson et al, (2013)27
  • Full‐service hospitals (2)

  • Not reported (9)

  • 72‐d mean (9)

  • Nursing home

  • Patients awaiting placement to another setting described the hospital environment as bleak

Abbreviations: CCC, complex continuing care facility; LTC, long‐term care; NHS, National Health Services.