Hospital Discharge Planning for Elderly Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Damiani Gianfranco, Federico Bruno, Venditti Antonella, Sicuro Lorella, Rinaldi Silvia, Cirio Franco, Pregno Cristiana, Ricciardi Walter
Primary Institution: Department of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart
Hypothesis
Does the care-home model reduce hospital readmission and mortality rates for elderly patients?
Conclusion
The use of discharge planning in a care-home setting reduced mortality rates for elderly patients, but only when followed by a long-term care plan.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients receiving routine care had higher mortality rates than those receiving discharge planning.
- Discharge planning followed by long-term care significantly decreased mortality compared to routine care.
- Readmission rates did not significantly differ between discharge planning and routine care.
Takeaway
This study looked at how helping older people after they leave the hospital can keep them from going back. It found that if they get extra help after leaving, they live longer.
Methodology
A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted with 380 subjects aged 64 and over, comparing those receiving discharge planning in a care-home model to those receiving routine care.
Potential Biases
Systematic differences may have occurred in baseline characteristics of subjects due to clinical judgments and social factors affecting care assignment.
Limitations
The study may suffer from biases due to the observational design and differences in baseline characteristics among groups.
Participant Demographics
Participants were elderly patients aged 64 years and older, with a majority aged 75-84 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.20 – 0.66
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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