Readiness for hospital discharge and its association with post‐discharge outcomes among oesophageal cancer patients after oesophagectomy: A prospective observational study

• Published in: Journal of clinical nursing Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 3969 - 3978
• Main Authors: Yu, Qian, He, Le‐jian, Zhong, Jiu‐di, Zhang, Jun‐e
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Dysphagia; Esophageal cancer; Observational studies; oesophageal cancer; Patient admissions; Patients; post‐discharge coping difficulty; quality of discharge teaching; readiness for hospital discharge; Surgical outcomes; unplanned readmission; China; unplanned readmission; readiness for hospital discharge; quality of discharge teaching; post-discharge coping difficulty; oesophageal cancer
• ISSN: 0962-1067; 1365-2702; 1365-2702
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17055

Aim To examine the level and influencing factors of discharge readiness among patients with oesophageal cancer following oesophagectomy and to explore its association with post‐discharge outcomes (post‐discharge coping difficulty and unplanned readmission). Background Oesophageal cancer is common and usually treated via oesophagectomy in China. The assessment of patient's discharge readiness gradually attracts attention as patients tend to be discharged more quickly. Design Prospective observational study. The STROBE statement was followed. Methods In total, 154 participants with oesophageal cancer after oesophagectomy were recruited in a tertiary cancer centre in Southern China from July 2019 to January 2020. The participants completed a demographic and disease‐related questionnaire, the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale and Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale before discharge. Post‐discharge outcomes were investigated on the 21st day (post‐discharge coping difficulty) and 30th day (unplanned readmission) after discharge separately. Multiple linear regressions were used for statistical analysis. Results The mean scores of discharge readiness and quality of discharge teaching were (154.02 ± 31.58) and (138.20 ± 24.20) respectively. The quality of discharge teaching, self‐care ability, dysphagia and primary caregiver mainly influenced patient's discharge readiness and explained 63.0% of the variance. The low discharge readiness could predict more risk of post‐discharge coping difficulty (r = −0.729, p < 0.01) and unplanned readmission (t = −2.721, p < 0.01). Conclusions Discharge readiness among patients with oesophageal cancer following oesophagectomy is influenced by various factors, especially the quality of discharge teaching. A high discharge readiness corresponds to good post‐discharge outcomes. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care Healthcare professionals should improve the discharge readiness by constructing high‐quality discharge teaching, cultivating patients' self‐care ability, mobilizing family participation and alleviating dysphagia to decrease adverse post‐discharge outcomes among patients with oesophageal cancer. Patients or Public Contribution Patients with oesophageal cancer after oesophagectomy who met the inclusion criteria were recruited.