title: Testing a two step nursing intervention focused on decreasing rehospitalizations and nursing home admission post discharge from acute care.
abstract: Older adults are at high risk of readmission on discharge from the Acute Medical and Emergency Department (ED). This study examines the effect of a two-stage nursing assessment and intervention to address older adults' uncompensated problems and thus intend to prevent readmission and functional decline. A randomized controlled study was conducted. Included were 271 patients aged 70 and over admitted to an ED. A brief standardized nursing assessment and intervention was carried out after discharge and at follow-up. No effect was found on readmission to hospital, admission to nursing home, or death but the intervention group was less likely to be at risk of depression after 180 days. Whether this method can be recommended needs further study as well as knowledge is needed as to the organization and to reveal older adults' experiences on follow-up after ED stay.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager, Italiensvej 1, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: Elizabeth.rosted@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosted
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hendriksen
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Geriatric nursing assessment; Intervention; Older people in ED; Randomized controlled trial; Transition from ED to home