Huey-Shyan Lin
Fooyin University, Taiwan
Title: The effectiveness of using a systematic assessment tool for hospital discharge planning
Biography
Biography: Huey-Shyan Lin
Abstract
Background: Discharge-planning services are aimed at meeting the post discharge care requirements of patients. Thus, an effective method for assessing their care requirements is critical. Objective: This study was to explore the effectiveness of using a systematic assessment tool for hospital discharge planning. Methods: This research adopted a longitudinal two-group comparison study design, and a convenience sampling method was adopted to recruit patients requiring discharge-planning services at eight wards in a regional teaching hospital in Southern Taiwan. The post discharge care requirements of the patients were evaluated using a traditional assessment tool or a systematic assessment tool as an alternative. Sixty-eight patients were matched with similar age and with similar activity in daily living index scores to compare the effectiveness of the tools. Results: The systematic assessment tool exhibited significantly higher assessment integrity and significantly lower rates of rehospitalization and mortality within discharge 14 days. The two groups exhibited no significant difference in inappropriate hospital days, and primary decision-makers’ satisfaction. However, the differences in three items of satisfaction exhibited moderate-to-large effect sizes, which may be of clinical importance. Conclusions: To meet the needs of primary decision-makers in a family, enhance their satisfaction, and provide effective discharge-planning services, clinicians should adopt the systematic assessment tool to assess the post discharge care requirements of patient, and the hospital should provide relevant facilities to assist in implementing all plans.