Routine vs. On-Demand Discharge Planning Strategy in Intermediate-Risk Patients for Complex Discharge: a Cluster-Randomized, Multiple Crossover Trial.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Early hospital discharge planning can help to reduce the length of stay and unplanned readmission in high-risk patients. Therefore, it is important to select patients who can benefit from a personalized discharge planning based on validated tools. The modified Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) is routinely used in the Molinette Hospital (Turin, Italy) to screen patients at high risk for discharge, but the effectiveness of the discharge planning is uncertain in intermediate-risk patients.Objective
To evaluate the best strategy for discharge planning by the Continuity of Care Hospital Unit (CCHU) in intermediate-risk patients according to modified BRASS.Design
Cluster-randomized, multiple crossover trial.Participants
Adult patients admitted in the Medicine and Neurology departments of the Molinette Hospital in Turin, Italy, between June 2018 and May 2019 with a BRASS intermediate risk.Interventions
A routine discharge planning strategy (RDP, Routine Discharge Plan), which involved the management of all intermediate-risk patients, was compared to an on-demand discharge planning strategy (DDP, on-Demand Discharge Planning), which involved only selected patients referred to the CCHU by ward staff.Main measures
The primary outcome was the 90-day hospital readmission for any cause (HR90). Secondary outcomes included the prolonged length of stay (pLOS).Key results
Eight hundred two patients (median age 79 years) were included (414 RDP and 388 DDP). Comparing RDP vs. DDP periods, HR90 was 27.6% and 27.3% (OR 1.01, 90%CI 0.76-1.33, p = 0.485); and pLOS was 47 (11.4%) and 40 (10.3%) (OR 1.24, 95%CI 0.72-2.13, p = 0.447), respectively.Conclusions
This is one of the largest randomized study conducted to compare the effectiveness of two different hospital discharge planning strategies. In patients with intermediate risk of hospital discharge, a RDP offers no advantage over a DDP and results in an unnecessary increase in staff workload.Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03436940.
SUBMITTER: Evangelista A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10506972 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Routine vs. On-Demand Discharge Planning Strategy in Intermediate-Risk Patients for Complex Discharge: a Cluster-Randomized, Multiple Crossover Trial.
Evangelista Andrea A Camussi Elisa E Corezzi Michele M Gilardetti Marco M Fonte Gianfranco G Scarmozzino Antonio A La Valle Giovanni G Angelone Lorenzo L Olivero Elena E Ciccone Giovannino G Corsi Daniela D
Journal of general internal medicine 20230511 12
<h4>Background</h4>Early hospital discharge planning can help to reduce the length of stay and unplanned readmission in high-risk patients. Therefore, it is important to select patients who can benefit from a personalized discharge planning based on validated tools. The modified Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) is routinely used in the Molinette Hospital (Turin, Italy) to screen patients at high risk for discharge, but the effectiveness of the discharge planning is uncertain in i ...[more]
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Project description:In this scoping review, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated multidisciplinary team discharge planning and identify common outcomes among older adults with complex needs, focusing on a safe transition from the hospital to the community. We performed a literature search for relevant articles using seven electronic databases and agreed search terms. Only articles published in English were included. In total, 23,772 articles were identified, with 27 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. A preponderance of patients aged ≥65 years and women was inferred based on population demographics. Initiatives on complex discharge planning were noted across most Western countries. Common outcomes of complex discharge planning were functionality (n = 11) including frailty (n = 4), quality of life (n = 11), and patient-centered factors including psychosocial needs (n = 9). Various outcomes from complex discharge planning initiatives and pathways were explored in this scoping review. None of the selected studies covered all nine domains of outcome assessment. Further research is needed involving follow-up studies after complex discharge planning interventions to assess their true effectiveness or value.
| S-EPMC9340947 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDischarge planning is a routine feature of health systems in many countries that aims to reduce delayed discharge from hospital, and improve the co-ordination of services following discharge from hospital and reduce the risk of hospital readmission. This is the fifth update of the original review.ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness of planning the discharge of individual patients moving from hospital.Search methodsWe searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and two trials registers on 20 April 2021. We searched two other databases up to 31 March 2020. We also conducted reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies.Selection criteriaRandomised trials that compared an individualised discharge plan with routine discharge that was not tailored to individual participants. Participants were hospital inpatients.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently undertook data analysis and quality assessment using a pre-designed data extraction sheet. We grouped studies by older people with a medical condition, people recovering from surgery, and studies that recruited participants with a mix of conditions. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) for continuous data using fixed-effect meta-analysis. When combining outcome data it was not possible because of differences in the reporting of outcomes, we summarised the reported results for each trial in the text.Main resultsWe included 33 trials (12,242 participants), four new trials included in this update. The majority of trials (N = 30) recruited participants with a medical diagnosis, average age range 60 to 84 years; four of these trials also recruited participants who were in hospital for a surgical procedure. Participants allocated to discharge planning and who were in hospital for a medical condition had a small reduction in the initial hospital length of stay (MD - 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.33 to - 0.12; 11 trials, 2113 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), and a relative reduction in readmission to hospital over an average of three months follow-up (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.97; 17 trials, 5126 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There was little or no difference in participant's health status (mortality at three- to nine-month follow-up: RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.29; 8 trials, 2721 participants; moderate certainty) functional status and psychological health measured by a range of measures, 12 studies, 2927 participants; low certainty evidence). There was some evidence that satisfaction might be increased for patients (7 trials), caregivers (1 trial) or healthcare professionals (2 trials) (very low certainty evidence). The cost of a structured discharge plan compared with routine discharge is uncertain (7 trials recruiting 7873 participants with a medical condition; very low certainty evidence).Authors' conclusionsA structured discharge plan that is tailored to the individual patient probably brings about a small reduction in the initial hospital length of stay and readmissions to hospital for older people with a medical condition, may slightly increase patient satisfaction with healthcare received. The impact on patient health status and healthcare resource use or cost to the health service is uncertain.
| S-EPMC8867723 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Discharge planning is a routine feature of health systems in many countries. The aim of discharge planning is to reduce hospital length of stay and unplanned readmission to hospital, and to improve the co-ordination of services following discharge from hospital.This is the third update of the original review. OBJECTIVES:To assess the effectiveness of planning the discharge of individual patients moving from hospital. SEARCH METHODS:We updated the review using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2015, Issue 9), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Social Science Citation Index (last searched in October 2015), and the US National Institutes of Health trial register (ClinicalTrials.gov). SELECTION CRITERIA:Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared an individualised discharge plan with routine discharge care that was not tailored to individual participants. Participants were hospital inpatients. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:Two authors independently undertook data analysis and quality assessment using a pre-designed data extraction sheet. We grouped studies according to patient groups (elderly medical patients, patients recovering from surgery, and those with a mix of conditions) and by outcome. We performed our statistical analysis according to the intention-to-treat principle, calculating risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) for continuous data using fixed-effect meta-analysis. When combining outcome data was not possible because of differences in the reporting of outcomes, we summarised the reported data in the text. MAIN RESULTS:We included 30 trials (11,964 participants), including six identified in this update. Twenty-one trials recruited older participants with a medical condition, five recruited participants with a mix of medical and surgical conditions, one recruited participants from a psychiatric hospital, one from both a psychiatric hospital and from a general hospital, and two trials recruited participants admitted to hospital following a fall. Hospital length of stay and readmissions to hospital were reduced for participants admitted to hospital with a medical diagnosis and who were allocated to discharge planning (length of stay MD - 0.73, 95% CI - 1.33 to - 0.12, 12 trials, moderate certainty evidence; readmission rates RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.97, 15 trials, moderate certainty evidence). It is uncertain whether discharge planning reduces readmission rates for patients admitted to hospital following a fall (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.46 to 4.01, 2 trials, very low certainty evidence). For elderly patients with a medical condition, there was little or no difference between groups for mortality (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.24, moderate certainty). There was also little evidence regarding mortality for participants recovering from surgery or who had a mix of medical and surgical conditions. Discharge planning may lead to increased satisfaction for patients and healthcare professionals (low certainty evidence, six trials). It is uncertain whether there is any difference in the cost of care when discharge planning is implemented with patients who have a medical condition (very low certainty evidence, five trials). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:A discharge plan tailored to the individual patient probably brings about a small reduction in hospital length of stay and reduces the risk of readmission to hospital at three months follow-up for older people with a medical condition. Discharge planning may lead to increased satisfaction with healthcare for patients and professionals. There is little evidence that discharge planning reduces costs to the health service.
| S-EPMC7073416 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceCritically ill children presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in non-children's hospitals are at high risk for experiencing medical errors, including medication errors. Video telemedicine consultations with pediatric specialists have the potential to reduce the risk of medication errors beyond the current standard of care, telephone consultations.ObjectiveTo compare the rates of ED physician-related medication errors among critically ill children randomized to receive either video telemedicine or telephone consultations.Design, setting, and participantsThis cluster randomized, unbalanced crossover trial was conducted at 15 community EDs in northern California between September 2014 and March 2018. Analyses were conducted from May 2022 to January 2023. Participants included acutely ill children younger than 15 years presenting to a participating ED.InterventionsParticipating EDs were randomized to use video telemedicine or telephone for consultations with pediatric critical care physicians according to 1 of 4 unbalanced (3 telemedicine to 1 telephone) crossover treatment assignment sequences.Main outcomes and measuresPharmacists reviewed medical records to document physician-related medication errors using a previously validated instrument. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to create models with the medication order as the unit of analysis and adjusting for age, the log-transformed Revised Pediatric Emergency Assessment Tool score, and hospital study period.ResultsA total of 696 patient encounters were included in the trial (mean [SD] age, 4.2 [4.6] years; median [IQR] age, 2.1 [0.5-2.1] years; 304 female [43.7%]), with 537 patient encounters (77.2%) assigned to video telemedicine and 159 patient encounters (22.8%) assigned to telephone. At least 1 physician-related medication error occurred for 87 patients (12.5%), including 20 of 159 patients (12.6%) in the telephone cohort and 67 of 537 patients (12.5%) in the telemedicine cohort. Of the 2414 medication orders, errors occurred in 124 cases (5.1%), including 26 of 513 orders (5.1%) in the telephone cohort and 98 of 1901 orders (5.2%) in the telemedicine cohort. In the multivariable analysis, the adjusted odds ratio of experiencing a medication error among those assigned to telemedicine was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.49-1.52; P = .61).Conclusions and relevanceThis cluster randomized crossover trial found no statistically significant differences in physician-related medication errors between critically ill children assigned to receive telephone consultations vs video telemedicine consultations.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02877810.
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Project description:We investigated the conceptual capability of Moistube irrigation (MTI) to discharge under zero applied positive pressure and under varied climatic conditions by inducing an artificial evaporative demand (Ed) or negative pressure around Moistube tubing. This study was premised on the null hypothesis that an artificially induced Ed or negative pressure does not impact MTI discharge. Moistube tubing was enclosed in a 1 m long PVC conduit. A 20 l water reservoir placed on an electronic balance provided a continuous supply of water whilst a three-speed hot air blower facilitated the radiative factor and advection process. The procedure was conducted under varied climatic conditions with three air velocity (ua) treatments namely; 1.2 m.s-1, 2.5 m.s-1, and 3.0 m.s-1 and the experiment run times were 159 h, 134 h and 10 h, respectively. The average temperature (Tave) and relative humidity (RH) data for ua = 1.2 m.s-1 were 53°C and 7.31%, whilst for ua = 2.5 m.s-1, Tave was 56°C and RH = 7.19%, and for ua = 3.0 m.s-1, Tave was 63°C and RH = 6.16%. The experimental data was input into the four variable Penman-Monteith method to compute the evaporative demand (Ed). For each Ed, the instantaneous mass flow rate ([Formula: see text]) was recorded using an electronic balance and subsequently converted to volumetric flow rates. For each of the air velocities, the respective Ed values obtained were 0.16, 0.31 and 0.36 mm.d-1. The Bowen ratios (r) were well below 1 (r < 1), which suggested a sufficient supply of moisture to evaporate. For Ed = 0.16 mm.d-1 the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was 113.08 mbars, whilst for Ed = 0.31 mm.d-1 and for Ed = 0.36 mm.d-1 the VPD were 129.93 mbars and 150.14 mbars, respectively. The recorded discharges (q) at normalised time (t*) = 1 h for Ed = 0.16 mm.d-1 was 7.67*10-3 l.hr-1.m-1 length, whilst for Ed = 0.31 mm.d-1 q = 14.5*10-3 l.hr-1.m-1 length, and for Ed = 0.36 mm.d-1 q = 20.8*10-3 l.hr-1.m-1 length. The imposed negative pressure causes an exponential increase in Moistube™ discharge, thus disproving the null hypothesis. The higher the evaporative demand the higher the discharge. This phenomenon allows MTI to be used for deficit irrigation purposes and allows irrigators to capitalize on realistic soil matric potential irrigation scheduling approach.
| S-EPMC7743961 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThis study investigates the effectiveness of incorporating simulated interactive guidelines in nursing students' performance during disaster situations, compared to routine training.MethodThis study was a crossover design with pre-and post-tests for two groups. Each group consisted of 60 students selected using the census method. SIG and routine (Face-to-Face) training sessions were conducted as a crossover design. Triage knowledge questionnaires were used in the pretest to assess triage knowledge. An OSCE test was administered in the posttest to assess student performance, followed by a triage skills questionnaire. Both questionnaires were highly reliable, as indicated by Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.9 and 0.95, respectively). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 software at a significance level 0.05.ResultThe chi-square test showed that the two groups were homogeneous regarding age. Regarding knowledge level, both groups were homogeneous before the intervention (P = 0.99). Nevertheless, the results of the OSCE test showed that the students in Group A had a higher level of skill than the students in Group B (93% versus 70%). Also, 18% of the students in group B had low skills.DiscussionThe study found that student outcomes improved in both groups receiving SIG, suggesting that interaction and simulation improve learning. However, gamification is an ideal precursor to learning and not a substitute for education. Therefore, gamification should not be used as a stand-alone teaching method.ConclusionsThe crossover study found that simulators and games should not be considered stand-alone teaching methods but can contribute to learning sustainability when used alongside instruction.
| S-EPMC10626668 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The recruitment of cross-hemispheric counterparts of lateralized prefrontal brain regions with increasing processing demand is thought to increase memory performance despite cognitive aging, but was recently reported to be present also in young adults working at their capacity limit. Here we ask if cross-hemispheric recruitment is a general strategy of the adult brain in that executive task demand would modulate bilateral activation beyond prefrontal cortex and across cognitive tasks. We analyzed data sets from two fMRI experiments investigating retrospective working memory maintenance and prospective action planning. We confirmed a cross-hemispheric recruitment of prefrontal cortex across tasks and experiments. Changes in lateralization due to planning further surfaced in the cerebellum, dorsal premotor and posterior parietal cortex. Parietal cortex thereby exhibited cross-hemispheric recruitment also during spatial but not verbal working memory maintenance. Our results confirm a domain-general role of prefrontal cortex in cross-hemispheric recruitment. They further suggest that other task-specific brain regions also recruit their idling cross-hemispheric counterparts to relocate executive processing power.
| S-EPMC10505196 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundChronically ill people experience frequent changes in health status accompanied by multiple transitions between care settings and care providers. Discharge planning provides support services, follow-up activities, and other interventions that span pre-hospital discharge to post-hospital settings.ObjectiveTo determine if discharge planning is effective at reducing health resource utilization and improving patient outcomes compared with standard care alone.Data sourcesA standard systematic literature search was conducted for studies published from January 1, 2004, until December 13, 2011.Review methodsReports, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses with 1 month or more of follow-up and limited to specified chronic conditions were examined. Outcomes included mortality/survival, readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits, hospital length of stay (LOS), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and patient satisfaction.ResultsOne meta-analysis compared individualized discharge planning to usual care and found a significant reduction in readmissions favouring individualized discharge planning. A second meta-analysis compared comprehensive discharge planning with postdischarge support to usual care. There was a significant reduction in readmissions favouring discharge planning with postdischarge support. However, there was significant statistical heterogeneity. For both meta-analyses there was a nonsignificant reduction in mortality between the study arms.LimitationsThere was difficulty in distinguishing the relative contribution of each element within the terms "discharge planning" and "postdischarge support." For most studies, "usual care" was not explicitly described.ConclusionsCompared with usual care, there was moderate quality evidence that individualized discharge planning is more effective at reducing readmissions or hospital LOS but not mortality, and very low quality evidence that it is more effective at improving HRQOL or patient satisfaction. Compared with usual care, there was low quality evidence that the discharge planning plus postdischarge support is more effective at reducing readmissions but not more effective at reducing hospital LOS or mortality. There was very low quality evidence that it is more effective at improving HRQOL or patient satisfaction.
| S-EPMC3804053 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesTo study the implementation of a cluster randomised controlled effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial testing the effectiveness of a medication review at hospital discharge combined with a communication stimulus between hospital physicians (HPs) and general practitioners (GPs) on rehospitalisation of multimorbid older patients.DesignExtension of Grant's mixed method process evaluation framework to trials with multilevel clustering.SettingGeneral internal medicine wards in Swiss hospitals.ParticipantsConvenience samples of 15 chief physicians (of 21 hospitals participating in the effectiveness trial), 60 (74) senior HPs, 65 (164) junior HPs and 187 (411) GPs.Implementation strategyTwo-hour teaching sessions for senior HPs on a patient-centred, checklist-guided discharge routine.Process evaluation componentsData collection on recruitment, delivery and response from chief physicians (semistructured interviews), senior HPs, junior HPs, GPs (surveys) and patients (via HPs). Quantitative data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and interviews analysed using thematic analysis.Outcome measuresIntervention dose (quantitative), implementation fidelity (qualitative), feasibility and acceptability, facilitators and barriers, implementation support strategies.ResultsRecruitment of hospitals was laborious but successful, with 21 hospitals recruited. Minimal workload and a perceived benefit for the clinic were crucial factors for participation. Intervention dose was high (95% of checklist activities carried out), but intervention fidelity was limited (discharge letters) or unknown (medication review). Recruitment and retention of patients was challenging, partly due to patient characteristics (old, frail) and the COVID-19 pandemic: Only 612 of the anticipated 2100 patients were recruited, and 31% were lost to follow-up within the first month after discharge. The intervention was deemed feasible and helpful by HPs, and the relevance of the topic appreciated by both HPs and GPs.ConclusionsThe results from this evaluation will support interpretation of the findings of the effectiveness study and may inform researchers and policy makers who aim at improving hospital discharge.Trial registration numberISRCTN18427377.
| S-EPMC8162085 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceDespite secondary prevention strategies with proven efficacy, recurrent stroke rates remain high, particularly in racial/ethnic minority populations who are disproportionately affected by stroke.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of a culturally tailored skills-based educational intervention with telephone follow-up compared with standard discharge care on systolic blood pressure reduction in a multiethnic cohort of patients with mild/moderate stroke/transient ischemic attack.Design, setting, and participantsRandomized clinical trial with 1-year follow-up. Participants were white, black, and Hispanic patients with mild/moderate stroke/transient ischemic attack prospectively enrolled from 4 New York City, New York, medical centers during hospitalization or emergency department visit between August 2012 and May 2016. Through screening of stroke admissions and emergency department notifications, 1083 eligible patients were identified, of whom 256 declined to participate and 275 were excluded for other reasons. Analyses were intention to treat.InterventionsThe Discharge Educational Strategies for Reduction of Vascular Events (DESERVE) intervention is a skills-based, culturally tailored discharge program with follow-up calls delivered by a community health coordinator. This intervention was developed using a community engagement approach.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was systolic blood pressure reduction at 12 months postdischarge.ResultsA total of 552 participants were randomized to receive intervention or usual care (281 women [51%]; mean [SD] age, 64.61 [2.9] years; 180 Hispanic [33%], 151 non-Hispanic white [27%], and 183 non-Hispanic black [33%]). At 1-year follow-up, no significant difference in systolic blood pressure reduction was observed between intervention and usual care groups (β = 2.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, -1.9 to 6.9). Although not powered for subgroup analysis, we found that among Hispanic individuals, the intervention arm had a clinically and statically significant 9.9 mm Hg-greater mean systolic blood pressure reduction compared with usual care (95% CI, 1.8-18.0). There were no significant differences between arms among non-Hispanic white (β = 3.3; 95% CI, -4.1 to 10.7) and non-Hispanic black participants (β = -1.6; 95% CI, -10.1 to 6.8).Conclusions and relevanceFew behavioral intervention studies in individuals who have had stroke have reported clinically meaningful reductions in blood pressure at 12 months, and fewer have focused on a skills-based approach. Results of secondary analyses suggest that culturally tailored, skills-based strategies may be an important alternative to knowledge-focused approaches in achieving sustained vascular risk reduction and addressing racial/ethnic stroke disparities; however, these findings should be tested in future studies.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01836354.
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