Fast track patients' satisfaction, compliance and confidence with emergency department discharge planning

Abstract

Background: Across Australia over one million patients are discharged from the emergency department. Discharge planning involves the communication of healthcare information to optimise patient safety, self-management and compliance with ongoing treatment. Little is known about the adequacy of discharge planning, therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experience, confidence, satisfaction and perceptions of patients recently discharged from ED..

Methods: The descriptive exploratory study was conducted in one district Tasmanian hospital. Data collection involved patient telephone interviews and a retrospective medical record audit.

Results: A convenience sample of 100 patients was used for the study. Overall, the majority (93%) of patients understood their treatment, were confident to be discharged home (88%), and satisfied (90%) with emergency care. The majority of patients' understood their discharge diagnosis (86%) and were provided with verbal (84%) discharge information. Discharge referral instructions were followed up by 60% of patients with 26% of patients re-presenting to emergency.

Conclusions: The study highlighted that the majority of patients were satisfied with care, complied with discharge healthcare information and confident to be discharged. However, a number of patients failed to adhere to discharge follow up advice and re-presented to the emergency.

Keywords: Compliance; Discharge instructions; Discharge planning; Emergency Medicine; Patient communication; Satisfaction.