title: Hospital discharge: results from an Italian multicenter prospective study using Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the predictive validity and reliability of the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) Index in a large group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective multicenter observational study was conducted in six Italian hospitals. Data were collected in three phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred eleven patients were recruited. The mean length of hospitalization for low-risk patients was significantly shorter than those in the medium and high-risk groups. Patients with a BRASS Index lower than 10, unlike those with a higher BRASS Index, were mainly discharged home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the BRASS Index is useful to identify patients at risk for prolonged hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a validated BRASS instrument can be useful to screen the patients, improving individual discharge planning.
authors.affiliation: Biella Hospital, University of "Piemonte Orientale", Biella, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dal Molin
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Derossi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guazzini
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cocchieri
authors.forename: Ercole
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vellone
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rasero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BRASS Index; discharge planning; nursing care; validation study