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Health professionals’ perspectives on the discharge process and continuity of care for stroke survivors discharged home in regional Australia: a qualitative, descriptive study

journal contribution
posted on 2019-06-01, 00:00 authored by A Kable, A Baker, D Pond, E Southgate, Alyna TurnerAlyna Turner, C Levi
Many stroke patients are discharged home due to advances in treatment approaches and reduced residual disability. The aim of this study was to understand health professionals’ perspectives on the discharge process and continuity of care during the transition between hospital and home for stroke survivors. In this qualitative, descriptive study, we used focus groups with 25 health professionals involved in discharge processes for transition from hospital to home in 2014, in a regional area of Australia. Discontinuity in the discharge process was affected by pressure to discharge patients, discharge medications and associated risks, inadequate or late discharge summaries, and challenges involving carers. Discontinuity in post-discharge services and follow up was affected by availability of post-discharge services, number of services arranged at the time of discharge, general practitioner follow up after discharge, delays and waiting lists, carer problems, and long-term follow up. There were complex organizational barriers to the continuity of care for stroke survivors discharged home. It is important to address these deficits so that stroke survivors and their carers can make the transition home with minimal risk and adequate support following a stroke.

History

Journal

Nursing and health sciences

Volume

21

Pagination

253-261

Location

Chichester, Eng.

ISSN

1441-0745

eISSN

1442-2018

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2018, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd

Issue

2

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons