The quality of hospital discharge from the perspective of stakeholders: a case study in Iran

Abstract

Today, the importance of the hospital, hospital processes and the improvement of the quality level of hospital services are felt more than ever due to the rapid growth of technology. The hospital is responsible for ensuring the health of patients, and the satisfaction of patients and improving the quality of care is one of the important indicators in hospital and nursing care and the main factor determining the quality of hospital services. The purpose of the current research is to determine the quality of hospital discharge from the perspective of the beneficiaries. Methodology: This is an analytical, applied and cross-sectional research study. The research community included patients and their companions as well as nurses. Sampling of patients and their companions was done in the form of available sampling and at the time of discharge of the patient. For sampling nurses, the census method is used to determine the sample size.In order to collect the required information in this research, a questionnaire called the Quality of Discharge Training Scale (QDTS). Findings: The average score of the quality dimensions of the discharge from the perspective of patients, patient companions and nurses showed that most patients (11.07±5.09) and patient companions (11.75±5.15) need to be taught the content received from nurses were at the time of discharge. If the content received from the providers was not optimal from the point of view of patients (17.92±5.35) and patients' companions (17.77±5.25) and it is lower than the average average. If most providers (13.29±4.37) were satisfied with the quality of the content they provided to patients and companions at the time of discharge and it was favorable. But the area of evaluation of teaching skills and effectiveness from the point of view of all three groups of patients (33.82±10.23) and patient companions (31.83±11.26) and nurses (28.60±7.62) There was no favorable report and it was lower than average. A higher percentage of patients (58.1 percent), patient companions (52.8 percent) and nurses (49.1 percent) evaluated the discharge quality as average. Conclusion: The results showed that patients and their companions need to be educated about the content received from nurses at the time of discharge. If most providers were satisfied with the quality of the content they provided to patients and companions at the time of discharge, it was desirable. In the field of evaluation of teaching skills and effectiveness from the point of view of all three groups of stakeholders, it is not reported at the optimal level and it is lower than the average. Also, most of the patients and companions believed that the performance status of the discharge quality was average and the level of understanding of the patients and companions The quality of discharge is reported to be moderate. Managers should understand the characteristics of different departments, provide relevant guidance and assistance, and nurses should understand the characteristics of patients and provide specific guidelines for each patient.