title: Improving transplant discharge education using a structured teaching approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonadherence to posttransplant regimens is common in transplant patients and has the potential for devastating consequences, including acute rejection, graft loss, decreased quality of life, and even death. Comprehensive education of patients and families that improves their understanding of posttransplant regimens and self-care techniques can increase adherence and improve outcomes. Transplant recipients have to learn a vast amount of complex information in a short period as they recover from major surgery and cope with the emotional stress of transplantation. It is not surprising that many patients report that they do not feel ready for discharge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development, implementation, and outcomes of a comprehensive interdisciplinary patient education program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quality improvement project.
  
  
  METHODS
  A solid organ transplant unit of a large academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-hospital transplant patients and their families and the interdisciplinary team.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive discharge education program that integrated written materials, patient and clinical pathways, and discharge instructions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Improved patient satisfaction with readiness for discharge and medication teaching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A postimplementation patient discharge survey using a 5-point Likert scale showed an increase in patients' understanding of medication dosage (3.6 to 4.6) and side effects (3.6 to 4.7), and satisfaction with the discharge teaching process (3.4 to 5.0).
authors.affiliation: New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA. margaret.frank-bader@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frank-Bader
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dojlidko
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000451:nursing*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016730:Program Development; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012015:Reference Standards; D013664:Teaching Materials