title: Patient and family satisfaction with discharge plans.
abstract: This study explored factors affecting patient and family satisfaction with discharge plans, an outcome of discharge planning provided by the hospital department of social work. Adequacy of discharge plans was rated by 126 patients and 130 family members within 24 hours before hospital discharge. Patient ratings of discharge plans were related to their degree of involvement in decision making, social support networks (sex and marital status), and physical condition (diagnosis and functional ability). Three types of factors were important to family members: 1) factors related to the discharge planning process, 2) the patient's discharge destination, and 3) length of patient hospital stay. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications on maximizing consumer satisfaction in the cost-conscious environment.
authors.affiliation: George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morrow-Howell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albaz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D012948:Social Work Department, Hospital; D014481:United States