title: A comparison study between two discharge planning tools.
abstract: The objective was to compare the effectiveness between a systematic assessment tool and a traditional assessment tool for discharge planning.
  
  
  
  This research adopted a two-group comparison study design, and convenience sampling was adopted to recruit patients requiring discharge-planning services at eight wards in a regional teaching hospital in Southern Taiwan. The postdischarge care requirements of two groups of patients were evaluated using a traditional assessment tool and a systematic assessment tool in different implementation periods, respectively. Sixty-eight patients were matched with similar age and with similar activity in daily living index scores to compare the effectiveness of the tools.
  
  
  
  The systematic assessment tool exhibited higher assessment integrity and placement appropriateness, as well as lower rates of rehospitalization or mortality within discharge 14 days. The two groups exhibited no significant difference in inappropriate hospital days, primary decision-makers' satisfaction, and proportion of referral professionals who meet patient care requirements. However, the differences in three items of satisfaction exhibited moderate-to-large effect sizes, which may be of clinical importance.
  
  
  
  To meet the needs of primary decision-makers in a family, enhance their satisfaction, and provide effective discharge-planning services, clinicians should adopt the systematic assessment tool to assess the postdischarge care requirements of a patient, and the hospital should provide relevant facilities to assist in implementing all plans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Pingtung Christian Hospital.
authors.forename: Jui-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Health-Business Administration, Office of Student Affairs, Fooyin University. Electronic address: sc035@fy.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Huey-Shyan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Fooyin University.
authors.forename: Shu-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University.
authors.forename: Ching-Huey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Discharge planning; Needs assessment; Systematic assessment tool