Article Figures & Tables
Tables
Variable No. (%) of participants*
n = 27Characteristic Admission diagnosis Congestive heart failure 13 (48) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 5 (18) Pneumonia 9 (33) Sex Male 10 (37) Female 17 (63) Age, yr, mean ± SD 72 ± 15 Length of stay, d, mean ± SD 10 ± 5 Presence of language barrier 6 (22) Limited health literacy 13 (48) Physical disability affecting mobility 13 (48) Sensory disability 12 (44) Living with caregiver 15 (56) Reliance on family for Self-care 10 (37) Food preparation 11 (41) Medication administration 6 (22) Transportation 12 (44) Appointments with doctors 11 (41) Receiving home support services 17 (63) No. of days between discharge and interview < 3 8 (30) 3–7 10 (37) > 7 9 (33) Experience within 1 wk of discharge Doctors, nurses or other hospital staff talked with patient about whether he/she would have the help needed when leaving hospital 11 (41) Received information in writing about what symptoms or health problems to look out for after leaving hospital 15 (56) Had clear understanding about all prescribed medications, including those he/she was taking before hospital stay, before leaving hospital Not at all 3 (11) Partly 5 (18) Quite a bit 7 (26) Completely 12 (44) Received enough information from hospital staff about what to do if he/she was worried about condition or treatment after leaving hospital Not at all 8 (30) Partly 6 (22) Quite a bit 2 (7) Completely 11 (41) Had better understanding of condition at discharge than at admission Not at all 6 (22) Partly 4 (15) Quite a bit 4 (15) Completely 13 (48) Had clear understanding about follow-up appointments and investigations at discharge Strongly disagree 3 (11) Disagree 3 (11) Agree 9 (33) Strongly agree 12 (44) Note: SD = standard deviation.
↵* Except where noted otherwise.
Theme Quote Individual-level Relationship with health care provider I can’t say enough great things about him [inpatient physician]. He listens and he really saw Mom as a person. And I’m relieved that we’re going to be seeing him next Tuesday. He told me to get all my questions ready and write them down so I will be able to ask them again. [Participant 1016, family member]
I have to go see 3 more specialists just to follow up. But [the in-hospital physician] is going to coordinate those specialists so nothing falls through the cracks, like one prescribing 1 drug and then another, so he’s going to be the central person there. So it makes me feel safer. [Participant 1013, patient]Lived experience I think that they realize this isn’t our first rodeo. … I think they realize that we were both pretty up on it and … didn’t have to go into [resources to assist with understanding condition discharge instructions] too much. [Participant 1025, family member]
Self-care is really important because our health care system is not what it should be. [Participant 5025, patient]Accessibility I can’t walk. I’m tied to an oxygen tank. And I’m not able to use my stairs. I have no one to help me. And I need to take an oxygen tank with me, a wheelchair or a walker. But I need to have somebody take the wheelchair down in order for me to go anywhere. So I don’t go out of my apartment. [Participant 2005, patient]
My mom speaks a little bit of English … she’ll understand a little bit. But if somebody [had] talked in Portuguese to her, it would have been a different story … they’d probably feel more comfortable. I was there most of the time, and then my brother was there most of the time. We’re just taking part of everything... . I went through all her tests, I kind of explain what is going on. [Participant 5035, family member]System-level Utility of written instructions That would have been nice if they could do that [provide discharge information a bit earlier] and just have any last-minute instruction on a separate piece of paper and a summary and the main discharge papers the day before. Because then I could read it all over and ask questions right while I was there. [Participant 1016, patient] Feeling rushed They just let you go. Goodbye. You’re gone. [Participant 5025, patient] Meaningful and actionable content I sort of panicked there for a bit because I wasn’t sure what I should do if [my husband] went into atrial fibrillation. So, no, I think maybe we could have been told a little more … “If it happened, here’s what you do.” [Participant 1027, family member] Role of follow-up We’ve got a lot of stuff to look over … and process. And this is the first time actually that we’ve come out and had a second chance to go back and see the doctors and talk it over with them and ask again what questions we have. You need a bit of time like this, and this is great. This follow-up appointment is a big plus. I don’t know if we would be able to get an appointment with my family doctor to get in and get Mom checked. [Participant 1016, patient]