Developing a patient-orientated hospital discharge summary.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
To develop a patient-orientated hospital discharge summary as a tool for self-care
IRAS ID
247274
Contact name
Alyson Huntley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Enterprise Development, University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 13 days
Research summary
Patients who are discharged following a stay in hospital are often not well informed on the treatments they have received whilst in hospital and the next steps for their care. This is in part due to the fact that conventional hospital discharge forms are devised with the health professional in mind. \n\nA patient orientated discharge summary (PODS) (http://pods-toolkit.uhnopenlab.ca/) developed by researchers in Toronto, Canada has undergone usability and feasibility studies already. (personal communication - Karen Okrainec) The Canadian research group’s most recent publication suggests that “improving patient engagement through the use of media and visual aids improves comprehension. Further studies are needed to clarify the effect on patient experience, adherence, and healthcare utilization post-discharge.” (Okrainec et al. 2017 J Hosp Med)\n\nOur aim to build on this research using the Canadian PODS format as a starting point. To determine whether a patient-orientated hospital discharge summary (PODS) developed to promote self-care [https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/patient-participation/self-care/] is appropriate and acceptable to older people and relevant health and social care professionals in the NHS setting.\n\nA PODS intervention may benefit many patients but we will focus on the older population (≥ 65 years), as we know this population can be high users of the NHS service generally, and experience greater numbers of both planned and unplanned hospital admissions for both for acute and chronic conditions.[Age Concern Briefing Feb 2017].\n\nTo achieve these aims, the research team will conduct qualitative interviews and focus groups of ≥ 65 year olds who have experience of hospital discharge and interviews with health care professionals involved in hospital discharge processes from local NHS Trusts (i.e. junior doctors who write discharge summaries, consultant geriatricians, discharge nurses and social workers).\n\n \n\n
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0179
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion