Title : Discharge planning health outcomes among patients with non-communicable diseases in university college hospital, Ibadan Nigeria: A cross-sectional study
Abstract:
Background: Patient Discharge Planning (DP) reduces avoidable negative events in patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and improves their health outcomes. This study assessed the discharge planning health outcomes among patients with Non-Communicable Diseases in University College Hospital Ibadan Nigeria.
Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among patients with NCDs. Forty patients managed by nurses who had DP training were randomly selected via balloting post-intervention to assess their health outcomes post-discharge. Patients’ health outcomes were evaluated with checklist (0-11) on coping and treatment adherence at two (T1), six (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) post-discharge. Patients’ health outcome scores were grouped with scores ≥ median (8.0) as positive and < median as negative outcomes. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney-U, and Chi-square test at α0.05.
Results: Majority (70%) of participants were older than 40 years, being females (65%). More ta average (60%) were living with > one health conditions, and they spent >14 days on admission (87.5%). The study showed that patients’ health outcomes scores were higher at six weeks post-intervention. When compared with T1 [39.5(34.8,42.0)] and T3 [37.5(35.3,37.8)], patients' health outcomes scores at T2 were 41.5(38.3,42.8).
Conclusions: Discharge planning led to better patient health outcomes. Targeted interventions are needed to ensure that discharge planning is initiated early and completed till discharge by nurses. Follow-up is also essential to sustain better post-discharge experiences among patients.
