title: Geriatric versus general medical wards: comparison of patients' behaviours following discharge from an acute care hospital.
abstract: The objective of this study was to explore, from a nursing perspective, the effectiveness of geriatric wards in preparing elderly patients for discharge from an acute care hospital. A convenience sample of 40 patients aged 70 years or older was obtained from three geriatric medical wards and two general medical wards of a large British teaching hospital. Data were collected immediately prior to discharge, and after 6 and 13 weeks following discharge. No meaningful differences were found between the two patient-groups in their ability to cope with activities of daily living following discharge. The majority of deaths and/or hospital readmissions occurred within 6 weeks of discharge. A major concern identified in both groups was patients' lack of knowledge about medications and their side-effects. A need for more effective teaching programmes for elderly patients was identified.
authors.affiliation: University of Victoria, School of Nursing, British Colombia, Canada.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006304:Health Status; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009732:Nursing Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010351:Patient Discharge