title: Predictors of Readiness for Hospital Discharge After Birth: Building Evidence for Practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preparation for hospital discharge after birth became a global concern when hospitals in many developing countries began implementing shorter lengths of stay for uncomplicated deliveries. A mother's perceived readiness for hospital discharge may be influenced by many factors that can ultimately shape postdischarge outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum predictors of discharge readiness, including nursing educational practices that are predictive of postpartum mothers' perceptions of readiness for hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Adaptation to Transitions conceptual framework guided the descriptive correlational study design and measures. A purposive sample of 185 English- and Spanish-speaking postpartum mothers who experienced an uneventful vaginal or cesarean birth of a healthy infant completed demographic, quality of discharge teaching, and readiness for hospital discharge questionnaires prior to discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers with three or more children, delivery mode, bottle-feeding, the delivery of education, and the difference between educational content received and needed, were significant predictors that accounted for 42% of the variance in readiness for hospital discharge (R2= 0.42, F[10,174]= 14.52, p < .001). Nurses' skill in teaching and educational content received were significant predictors even with parity, feeding, and delivery mode in the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relationship between quality of discharge teaching and discharge readiness provides evidence of the critical role nurses have in the discharge preparation process. Nurse education programs and evidence-based guidelines should be designed to enhance patient education focused on the adequacy and delivery of teaching content.
authors.affiliation: Director of Education, Research, and Professional Practice, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malagon-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Director of Nursing Research and Professor, University of San Diego, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.affiliation: Clinical Associate Professor, University of San Diego, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: antepartum; discharge readiness; hospital discharge; intrapartum; patient teaching; postpartum; quality of discharge teaching