Discharge communication practices and healthcare provider and patient preferences, satisfaction and comprehension: A systematic review
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE: To systematically review the available evidence about hospital discharge communication practices and identify which practices were preferred by patients and healthcare providers, improved patient and provider satisfaction, and increased patients' understanding of their medical condition. DATA SOURCES: OVID Medline, Web of Science, ProQuest, PubMed and CINAHL plus. STUDY SELECTION: Databases were searched for peer-reviewed, English-language papers, published to August 2016, of empirical research using quantitative or qualitative methods. Reference lists in the papers meeting inclusion criteria were searched to identify further papers. DATA EXTRACTION: Of the 3489 articles identified, 30 met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS: Much research to date has focused on the use of printed material and person-based discharge communication methods including verbal instructions (either in person or via telephone calls). Several studies have examined the use of information technology (IT) such as computer-generated and video-based discharge communication practices. Utilizing technology to deliver discharge information is preferred by healthcare providers and patients, and improves patients' understanding of their medical condition and discharge instructions. CONCLUSION: Well-designed IT solutions may improve communication, coordination and retention of information, and lead to improved outcomes for patients, their families, caregivers and primary healthcare providers as well as expediting the task for hospital staff.
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
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“Minimally, discharge summaries should accurately document and communicate a patient’s diagnostic findings, hospital management, and planned follow-up to the post-hospital care team.(46,47) These steps are critical to preventing rehospitalization events for people with dementia.”
Background
- Authors
- Newnham, H., Barker, A., Ritchie, E., Hitchcock, K., Gibbs, H., & Holton, S.
- Affiliations
- The Alfred Hospital (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Holton, Sara
- Venue
- International Journal for Quality in Health Care
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-09-07
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 752-768
- ISSN
- 1353-4505 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-3677
- OpenAlex
- W2751822727
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 1.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal for Quality in Health Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Own your potential (DEAKIN) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (APP1067236)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Hospital Admissions and Outcomes
- Keywords
- hospital discharge communication, patient satisfaction, healthcare provider preferences, patient understanding, discharge instructions, health information technology, patient-provider communication
- MeSH terms
- Communication, Health Personnel, Humans, Medical Informatics, Patient Discharge, Professional-Patient Relations, Patient Satisfaction, Patient Preference
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