Literacy of Geriatric Patients on Discharge

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Topic” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Topic” and its relation with “Subtopic”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “topic” and tries to gauge its effect on “subtopic”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “topic” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Topic” on “Subtopic”

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION6

Background7

Memory and Mental Deterioration:16

Conducting Medication Reviews:19

Community and Family Support:23

Health Care Encounter27

Self-Management29

METHODS32

Subjects32

Survey32

RESULTS35

DISCUSSION38

CONCLUSIONS45

REFERENCES46

Introduction

Transitions from the acute hospital to other sites of care are critical and potentially dangerous times for patients. Improving coordination of care among health care settings is amajor area of emphasis in the Institute of Medicine publication, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century.System factors such as poor information transmission processes, inadequate training of discharging staff, and inadequate time for discharge teaching can prevent patients from having the information they need when being discharged home. Patient factors such as nervousness, home distractions, and poor health literacy further limit the implementation of discharge plans.

Misalignment of system and patient factors can result in a bewildered patient with a failed discharge process that subverts the intentions of even the best posthospital plan. Regardless of whether system and/or patient factors underlie the problem, the perception of that bewildered patient is that of receiving inadequate instruction for self-care after discharge from the hospital. As self-care and medication compliance play an important role in health outcomes and whether patients are readmitted, such a perceived (or actual) lack of instruction can have important implications for future health, physical function, and quality of life. Patients cared for in settings where health literacy is generally low and socioeconomic conditions poor may be at especially high risk of problems with communication of the discharge plan.

The objectives of this study were to (1) describe patient recall regarding pre-discharge communication between hospital staff and patients regarding discharge instructions, and (2) to demonstrate that a post-hospitalization survey was both feasible and revealing in an urban, public hospital setting.

Background

Accidental falls are one of the most frequent adverse events reported in hospitals with falls rates ranging from 2.2 falls per 1000 patient days on general acute medical wards and up to 20 falls per 1,000 patient days on rehabilitation wards being reported. Up to 30% of hospital falls result in injury and fractures sustained from falls in hospitals have recently been found to result in poorer outcomes than fractures sustained from falls in the ...