title: The quality of hospital discharge: a survey of discharge arrangements for the over-65s.
abstract: A three-phase study comprising semi-structured interviews with patients and/or their carers, follow-up postal questionnaires, and a postal survey of the views of professionals involved in the discharge of participating patients was conducted to assess the quality of arrangements for patients over 65 years of age, discharged from hospitals in Chester and Ellesmere Port in the United Kingdom. A large majority of patients (80%) felt they had been adequately consulted about arrangements for their discharge, but less than 2% of health and social care professionals considered all discharges satisfactory. This apparent disparity between patient and professional views may be explained by low levels of expectation among patients in this aspect of their care and their reluctance to express views which they fear may compromise future care. Continuing difficulties with interprofessional communication and liaison suggest that further attention to discharge management is required if improvements are to be effected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fairhurst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cutting
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Featherstone
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*