title: Family involvement in emergency department discharge education for older people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report findings concerning family involvement in emergency department discharge education for older people.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The current trend of population ageing in Western countries has caused an increase in emergency department visits. Due to the continuing improvement in the mental and physical status of older people, they are frequently discharged home. Proper discharge education enables older people and their families to better understand how they can cope with the medical issue at home. Given the lack of research, we know relatively little about the significance of family involvement in older people's emergency department discharge education.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive qualitative design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative thematic interviews of seven older patients, five family members and fifteen nurses were conducted. Data were analysed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Family involvement in discharge education was seen as turbulent. The experiences were twofold: family involvement was acknowledged, but there was also a feeling that family members were ostracised. Families were seen as a resource for nurses, but as obliged initiators of their own involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that family members are not considered participants in emergency department care. For a family-friendly approach, actions should be taken on both individual and organisational levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings support healthcare providers and organisation leaders in promoting family involvement in discharge education for older people. Families can be encouraged to be involved without feeling responsible for the interaction.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. mira.palonen@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palonen
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.|Pirkanmaa Hospital District, General Administration, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaunonen
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.|Pirkanmaa Hospital District, General Administration, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Åstedt-Kurki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004630:Emergencies / Q000451:nursing*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010351:Patient Discharge
keywords: discharge education; emergency department; family involvement; older people