title: Effectiveness of nurse-led early discharge planning programmes for hospital inpatients with chronic disease or rehabilitation needs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of nurse-led early discharge planning programmes to standard care for inpatients with chronic disease or rehabilitation needs.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nurse-directed early discharge planning could shorten inpatient stays and reduce medical costs; however, it is not known whether the development of discharge planning programmes is effective for inpatients with chronic disease nor how such programmes might be optimally organised.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials assessing nurse-directed discharge planning for inpatients with chronic disease or rehabilitation needs. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Meta-analyses were conducted for the eligible studies by RevMan 5.2.6. Data were pooled using a fixed-effect or random effects model. Where meta-analysis was not possible, narrative analysis was reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten randomized controlled trials and 3438 participants were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that, compared to standard care, early discharge planning programmes are effective in reducing hospital readmission rates, duration of inpatient readmissions and all-cause mortality. However, no reduction in the length of stay of the index admission was demonstrated. Narrative analysis suggested that discharge planning may reduce total and readmission costs, as well as improving patients' satisfaction and overall quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to standard care, nurse-led early discharge planning programmes have a positive impact on several aspects of care for inpatients with chronic disease and rehabilitation requirements, including reducing readmission, readmission length of stay and mortality and improving quality of life. These findings should be taken into account in future health service policy development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are relevant to clinical and managerial staff in formulating and implementing discharge planning programmes for inpatients with chronic disease or rehabilitation needs.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Mei
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: chronic illness; discharge planning; meta-analysis; nurses; programme evaluation; systematic review