Predictors of Elder and Family Caregiver Satisfaction with Discharge Planning

Abstract

Client satisfaction is considered an important outcome measure in a managed care environment faced with escalating health care costs, shortened lengths of hospital stay, and competition among acute care hospitals. With shortened lengths of stay in acute care hospitals, discharge planning has assumed increased importance, particularly for elders who have chronic conditions, such as heart failure, that require follow-up care. Consequently, understanding the predictors of client satisfaction with discharge planning can help hospitals and their nursing staff to tailor services to meet client needs. Previous studies have focused on patient satisfaction with hospital care, with little attention given specifically to satisfaction with discharge planning and to family caregiver satisfaction with discharge planning. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference between elder and family member satisfaction with discharge planning 2 weeks after hospitalization and what factors predict satisfaction with discharge planning 2 weeks after hospitalization for elders hospitalized with heart failure and their family caregivers. Telephone interviews were conducted with 134 elder/family caregiver dyads 2 weeks after hospitalization. The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in discharge planning satisfaction of elders and their family caregivers. Continuity of care and extent to which they felt prepared to manage care following hospitalization were the best predictors of elder's and family caregiver's satisfaction with discharge planning.

Promoting effective transitions of care at hospital discharge: A review of key issues for hospitalists

“…4 Under these circumstances, ineffective planning and coordination of care can undermine patient satisfaction, facilitate adverse events, and contribute to more frequent hospital readmissions. [5][6][7][8] Following hospital discharge nearly half (49%) of hospitalized patients experience at least 1 medical error in medication continuity, diagnostic workup, or test follow-up. 7 It has been reported that 19%-23% of patients suffer an adverse event, most frequently an adverse drug event (ADE).…”

A importância da comunicação durante o período de recuperação pós-operatória

“…This reaction results from the comparison between the care received and a subjective criterion, i.e. the clients' perception or expectation (16) .…”

Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference guidelines on heart failure – 2008 update: Best practices for the transition of care of heart failure patients, and the recognition, investigation and treatment of cardiomyopathies

“…Understanding the physical, psychosocial and economic concerns of patients, as well as their goals and wishes, is essential to facilitate the behavioural changes necessary for self-care. Other important characteristics of transitional care include coaching patients and caregivers on managing comorbid conditions that complicate the management of heart failure, developing effective communication with their physicians and fostering collaboration among care providers (including home care services) to deliver individualized care to patients and their caregivers (31,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37). Patient care is optimized when all health care professionals involved in the management of each patient agree on the care plan.…”