Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and Children's Hospital Boston found patients and their families often have a poor understanding of discharge instructions after leaving the hospital emergency room.
Researchers reviewed more than 50 studies from both adult and pediatric populations in MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. They summarized the current risks associated with insufficient communication at the time of discharge and found patients and families are frequently unable to report the diagnosis, instructions for at-home care, medication use or reasons to return to the hospital.
Researchers recommend instructions be given verbally, in writing and with visual representation to improve comprehension. Patients need structured content and clear instructions about at-home care with opportunities to ask questions, the authors said.
Researchers reviewed more than 50 studies from both adult and pediatric populations in MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. They summarized the current risks associated with insufficient communication at the time of discharge and found patients and families are frequently unable to report the diagnosis, instructions for at-home care, medication use or reasons to return to the hospital.
Researchers recommend instructions be given verbally, in writing and with visual representation to improve comprehension. Patients need structured content and clear instructions about at-home care with opportunities to ask questions, the authors said.
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