Desafios da equipe interprofissionalna transição do cuidado hospitalar parao domicílio de pacientes oncológicos / Challenges of the interprofessional team in the transition from hospital care to home care for cancer patients

Os pacientes oncológicos necessitam de uma assistência integral, sobretudo no que se refere à transição do cuidado em saúde entre os diferentes locais e níveis de cuidado. Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar se existem protocolos assistenciais utilizados pela equipe interprofissional sobre a transição do cuidado oncológico hospitalar para o domicílio e identificar as estratégias utilizadas no planejamento e orientações da alta hospitalar. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de abordagem qualitativa, realizado através de Grupo Focal, com profissionais da equipe interprofissional que atuam diretamente com o cuidado oncológico, em hospital filantrópico, localizado no interior do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Construíram-se categorias que elencaram as principais características: Desafios na transição do cuidado para a rede de atenção primária e domiciliar e Sugestões para a mudança nas intervenções do cuidado integrado em oncologia. Constatou-se que a equipe interprofissional apresenta dificuldades na compreensão sobre a transição do cuidado e a necessidade de uma maior quantitativo de colaboradores para a qualificação da assistência.(AU)

Cancer patients need comprehensive care, especially with regard to the transition of health care between different locations and levels of care. This study aims to investigate whether there are care protocols used by the interprofessional team on the transition from hospital to home oncology care and to identify the strategies used in hospital discharge planning and guidance. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out through focus groups with professionals from the interprofessional team who work directly with cancer care in a philanthropic hospital located in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Categories were constructed which listed the main characteristics: Challenges in the transition of care to the primary and home care network and Suggestions for change in integrated oncology care interventions. It was found that the interprofessional team has difficulties in understanding the transition of care and the need for a greater number of collaborators to improve care.(AU)

Los pacientes oncológicos requieren una atención integral, especialmente en lo que se refiere a la transición de la asistencia sanitaria entre diferentes lugares y niveles asistenciales. Este estudio pretende investigar si existen protocolos asistenciales utilizados por el equipo interprofesional en la transición de la atención oncológica hospitalaria a la domiciliaria e identificar las estrategias utilizadas en la planificación y guías de alta hospitalaria. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo con abordaje cualitativo, realizado a través de grupos focales con profesionales del equipo interprofesional que trabajan directamente con la atención oncológica en un hospital filantrópico localizado en el interior del estado de Rio Grande do Sul. Se construyeron categorías que enumeraron las principales características: Desafíos en la transición de la atención a la red de atención primaria y domiciliaria y Sugerencias de cambio en las intervenciones de atención oncológica integrada. Se encontró que el equipo interprofesional tiene dificultades en la comprensión de la transición de la atención y la necesidad de un mayor número de colaboradores para mejorar la atención.(AU)

Utilizing Design Thinking for Effective Multidisciplinary Diabetes Management.

(1) Background: Design thinking, as a human-centered design method, represents a unique framework to support the planning, testing, and evaluation of new clinical spaces for diabetic care throughout all phases of construction. This approach prioritizes the needs and experiences of diabetic patients to create innovative and effective healthcare environments. By applying design-thinking principles, healthcare facilities can optimize the design and functionality of their clinical spaces, ensuring a patient-centered approach to diabetic care. This holistic and personalized approach can ultimately enhance the overall quality of diabetic care provided to patients. (2) Methods: The study used the action research method and progressively explored diabetes patients' needs and preferences for care, subsequently developing creative solutions to achieve the goals. There were six doctors, seven nursing staffs, four case managers and three family members who participated in the design-thinking workshop. (3) Results: The participating trainees in this study developed unique and innovative solutions during the iterative process of "divergent thinking" and "focused thinking", including diabetes dietary guidelines for food ordering and delivery platforms, and the design of accompanying health-education picture books to enable patients to learn the care process and precautions before, during, and after discharge. (4) Conclusions: This continuing education model promoted sharing among participants, improved collaboration and mutual learning, and increased motivation through goal setting.

Discharge interventions for First Nations people with a chronic condition or injury: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a unique place in Australia as the original inhabitants of the land. Similar to other First Nations people globally, they experience a disproportionate burden of injury and chronic health conditions. Discharge planning ensures ongoing care to avoid complications and achieve better health outcomes. Analysing discharge interventions that have been implemented and evaluated globally for First Nations people with an injury or chronic conditions can inform the implementation of strategies to ensure optimal ongoing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to analyse discharge interventions conducted globally among First Nations people who sustained an injury or suffered from a chronic condition. We included documents published in English between January 2010 and July 2022. We followed the reporting guidelines and criteria set in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA). Two independent reviewers screened the articles and extracted data from eligible papers. A quality appraisal of the studies was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the CONSIDER statement. RESULTS: Four quantitative and one qualitative study out of 4504 records met inclusion criteria. Three studies used interventions involving trained health professionals coordinating follow-up appointments, linkage with community care services and patient training. One study used 48-hour post discharge telephone follow-up and the other text messages with prompts to attend check-ups. The studies that included health professional coordination of follow-up, linkage with community care and patient education resulted in decreased readmissions, emergency presentations, hospital length of stay and unattended appointments. CONCLUSION: Further research on the field is needed to inform the design and delivery of effective programs to ensure quality health aftercare for First Nations people. We observed that discharge interventions in line with the principal domains of First Nations models of care including First Nations health workforce, accessible health services, holistic care, and self-determination were associated with better health outcomes. REGISTRATION: This study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (ID CRD42021254718).

Do In-Hospital Rothman Index Scores Predict Postdischarge Adverse Events and Discharge Location After Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: There have been efforts to reduce adverse events and unplanned readmissions after total joint arthroplasty. The Rothman Index (RI) is a real-time, composite measure of medical acuity for hospitalized patients. We aimed to examine the association among in-hospital RI scores and complications, readmissions, and discharge location after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that RI scores could be used to predict the outcomes of interest. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of an institutional database of elective, primary TKA from July 2018 until December 2019. Complications and readmissions were defined per Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Analysis included multivariate regression, computation of the area under the curve (AUC), and the Youden Index to set RI thresholds. RESULTS: The study cohort's (n = 957) complications (2.4%), readmissions (3.6%), and nonhome discharge (13.7%) were reported. All RI metrics (minimum, maximum, last, mean, range, 25th%, and 75th%) were significantly associated with increased odds of readmission and home discharge (all P < .05). RI scores were not significantly associated with complications. The optimal RI thresholds for increased risk of readmission were last ≤ 71 (AUC = 0.65), mean ≤ 67 (AUC = 0.66), or maximum ≤ 80 (AUC = 0.63). The optimal RI thresholds for increased risk of home discharge were minimum ≥ 53 (AUC = 0.65), mean ≥ 69 (AUC = 0.65), or maximum ≥ 81 (AUC = 0.60). CONCLUSION: RI values may be used to predict readmission or home discharge after TKA.

['Hip-in-a-Day']. / Hüftgelenkersatz im tagesklinischen Setup.

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the average length of stay for primary hip replacement patients in Germany was 10.2 days. In our hospital, we have been able to reduce the length of stay in the last 10 years to an average of 3.8 days. OBJECTIVES: Since September 2015, we offer the 'Hip-in-a-Day' program. This ultra-fast-track pathway consists of a hip arthroplasty procedure with the same day discharge of a well-prepared and explicitly selected patient with maximum intensive interdisciplinary care. The aim is to present the philosophy, treatment principles and daily routine during the pre-, intra- and postoperative phase. The challenges in the German health care system will be discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From September 2015 to November 2019, we operated on 97 patients (50 F: 47 M, ages: 43-77 years, ⌀ 55 years) who had undergone the Hip-in-a-Day pathway. All 97 patients received general anesthesia. Surgery was performed via the direct anterior approach (DAA) to the hip. Patients stayed in the day clinic less than 24 h after surgery. Of these, 30 patients were discharged on the day of surgery (⌀ 12 h stay), and 67 patients left the clinic the day after the operation (⌀ 20 h stay). Due to integrated health-care contracts with health-care providers, we were eligible to receive bundled reimbursement for this patient population. RESULTS: All 97 patients completed the Ultra-Fast-Track pathway and were able to meet the discharge criteria within 24 h after surgery. 96 of the 97 (98.9%) patients were able to complete Hip-in-a-Day without readmission. One patient had to undergo revision surgery after 10 days due to cup loosening. All patients (100%) were very satisfied with the routine of the day and the fast discharge from the hospital. CONCLUSION: The aim of Hip-in-a-Day is to discharge patients within 24 h after surgery. The implementation of the setup at the day clinic is intensive interdisciplinary care of all participating departments, as well as the three cornerstones of anesthesiological management, minimally invasive surgical techniques and patient compliance. In our clinic, ultra-fast-track arthroplasty is routinely feasible and has produced great patient satisfaction. Statutory health-care providers should include short-stay hip arthroplasty into the DRG system, so that this care concept can be reimbursed and practiced nationwide in Germany.

Integrative hospital treatment in older patients to benchmark and improve outcome and length of stay - the In-HospiTOOL study.

BACKGROUND: A comprehensive in-hospital patient management with reasonable and economic resource allocation is arguably the major challenge of health-care systems worldwide, especially in elderly, frail, and polymorbid patients. The need for patient management tools to improve the transition process and allocation of health care resources in routine clinical care particularly for the inpatient setting is obvious. To address these issues, a large prospective trial is warranted. METHODS: The "Integrative Hospital Treatment in Older patients to benchmark and improve Outcome and Length of stay" (In-HospiTOOL) study is an investigator-initiated, multicenter effectiveness trial to compare the effects of a novel in-hospital management tool on length of hospital stay, readmission rate, quality of care, and other clinical outcomes using a time-series model. The study aims to include approximately 35`000 polymorbid medical patients over an 18-month period, divided in an observation, implementation, and intervention phase. Detailed data on treatment and outcome of polymorbid medical patients during the in-hospital stay and after 30 days will be gathered to investigate differences in resource use, inter-professional collaborations and to establish representative benchmarking data to promote measurement and display of quality of care data across seven Swiss hospitals. The trial will inform whether the "In-HospiTOOL" optimizes inter-professional collaboration and thereby reduces length of hospital stay without harming subjective and objective patient-oriented outcome markers. DISCUSSION: Many of the current quality-mirroring tools do not reflect the real need and use of resources, especially in polymorbid and elderly patients. In addition, a validated tool for optimization of patient transition and discharge processes is still missing. The proposed multicenter effectiveness trial has potential to improve interprofessional collaboration and optimizes resource allocation from hospital admission to discharge. The results will enable inter-hospital comparison of transition processes and accomplish a benchmarking for inpatient care quality.

Planning to reduce 30-day adverse events after discharge of frail elderly patients with acute heart failure: design and rationale for the DEED FRAIL-AHF trial. / Planificación del alta desde urgencias para reducir eventos adversos a 30 días en pacientes mayores frágiles con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda: diseño y justificación del ensayo clínico DEED FRAIL-AHF.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the efficacy of a system for comprehensive care transfer (Multilevel Guided Discharge Plan [MGDP]) for frail older patients diagnosed with acute heart failure (AHF) and to validate the results of MGDP implementation under real clinical conditions. The MGDP seeks to reduce the number of adverse outcomes within 30 days of emergency department (ED) discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We will enroll frail patients over the age of 70 years discharged home from the ED with a main diagnosis of AHF. The MGDP includes the following components: 1) a checklist of clinical recommendations and resource activations, 2) scheduling of an early follow-up visit, 3) transfer of information to the primary care doctor, and 4) written instructions for the patient. Phase 1 of the study will be a matched-pair cluster-randomized controlled trial. Ten EDs will be randomly assigned to the intervention group and 10 to the control group. Each group will enroll 480 patients, and the outcomes will be compared between groups. Phase 2 will be a quasi-experimental study of the intervention in 300 new patients enrolled by the same 20 EDs. The outcomes will be compared to those for each Phase-1 group. The main endpoint at 30 days will be a composite of 2 outcomes: revisits to an ED and/for hospitalization for AHF or cardiovascular death. CONCLUSION: The study will assess the efficacy and feasibility of comprehensive MGDP transfer of care for frail older AHF patients discharged home.

OBJETIVO: Demostrar la eficacia de una intervención integral en la transición de cuidados (Plan de Alta Guiado Multinivel, PAGM) para disminuir eventos adversos a 30 días en ancianos frágiles con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) dados de alta desde servicios de urgencias (SU) y validar los resultados de dicha intervención en condiciones reales. METODO: Se seleccionarán pacientes 70 años frágiles con diagnóstico principal de ICA dados del alta a su domicilio desde SU. La intervención consistirá en aplicar un PAGM: 1) lista de verificación sobre recomendaciones clínicas y activación de recursos; 2) programación de visita precoz; 3) transmisión de información a atención primaria; 4) hoja de instrucciones al paciente por escrito. Fase 1: ensayo clínico con asignación al azar por conglomerados emparejado. Se asignará de forma aleatoria 10 SU (N = 480) al grupo de intervención y 10 SU (N = 480) al grupo de control. Se compararán los resultados entre grupo de intervención y control. Fase 2: estudio cuasi-experimental. Se realizará la intervención en los 20 SU (N = 300). Se comparará los resultados entre la fase 1 y 2 del grupo de intervención y entre la fase 1 y 2 del grupo de control. La variable principal de resultado es compuesta (revisita a urgencias u hospitalización por ICA o mortalidad de origen cardiovascular) a los 30 días del alta. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio valorará la eficacia y factibilidad de una intervención integral en la transición de cuidados para reducir resultados adversos a 30 días en ancianos frágiles con ICA dados de alta desde los SU.

[The Promotion of Resources Integration in Long-Term Care Service: The Experience of Taipei City Hospital].

The home-based medical care integrated plan under Taiwan National Health Insurance has changed from paying for home-based medical care, home-based nursing, home-based respiratory treatment, and palliative care to paying for a single, continuous home-based care service package. Formerly, physician-visit regulations limited home visits for home-based nursing to providing medical related assessments only. This limitation not only did not provide practical assistance to the public but also caused additional problems for those with mobility problems or who faced difficulties in making visits hospital. This 2016 change in regulations opens the door for doctors to step out their 'ivory tower', while offering the public more options to seek medical assistance in the hope that patients may change their health-seeking behavior. The home-based concept that underlies the medical service system is rooted deeply in the community in order to set up a sound, integrated model of community medical care. It is a critical issue to proceed with timely job handover confirmation with the connecting team and to provide patients with continuous-care services prior to discharge through the discharge-planning service and the connection with the connecting team. This is currently believed to be the only continuous home-based medical care integrated service model in the world. This model not only connects services such as health literacy, rehabilitation, home-based medical care, home-based nursing, community palliative care, and death but also integrates community resources, builds community resources networks, and provides high quality community care services.

Promoção do autocuidado no regresso a casa da pessoa com doença cardíaca / Promoting self-care when people with heart disease return home

As doenças cardiovasculares continuam a ser a principal causa de morte a nível nacional. De entre estas, a doença cardíaca tem particular destaque e crê-se que uma percentagem significativa dessa mortalidade possa ser evitada. De acordo com a FPC, a prevenção passa pelo controlo de fatores de risco modificáveis. Fruto dessas patologias ocorrem alterações significativas que podem proporcionar incapacidades e dependências nos doentes. Do mesmo modo, são exigidos novos papéis interventivos aos familiares. O défice de autocuidado que daí advém é um espaço de intervenção próprio do EEER, capaz de utilizar as suas competências específicas na reabilitação do doente. O presente relatório versa sobre as competências ­ comuns e específicas ­ desenvolvidas para a obtenção do título de EEER. Retrata as diversas atividades e intervenções implementadas no decorrer dos ensinos clínicos, com posterior análise e reflexão sobre o seu impacto no desenvolvimento de competências. Procura ainda revelar a pertinência do papel do EEER na promoção do autocuidado no regresso a casa da pessoa com doença cardíaca. A teoria de enfermagem que suporta tais cuidados é a de Dorothea Orem, cujo conceito de autocuidado aponta a capacidade de autonomia da pessoa no seu processo de saúde, utilizando-o em benefício próprio para a promoção da sua qualidade de vida. É o EEER que, através dos seus conhecimentos e competências, orienta o seu exercício profissional de acordo com as necessidades manifestadas pelo doente e famílias. Igualmente, o regresso a casa, devido às transições daí decorrentes, carece de toda a atenção do EE contribuindo para que este seja um processo satisfatório. Incumbe-lhe o desenvolvimento de áreas comunicacionais entre profissionais e de articulação institucionais. Finalmente, revela a importância da RC na prevenção da doença, na capacitação do doente e na maximização da sua independência.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death nationwide. Of these, heart disease is particularly prominent and it is believed that a significant percentage of such mortality can be avoided. According to the PCF, prevention is controlled by modifiable risk factors. As a result of these pathologies, there are significant changes that can lead to disability and dependence in patients. Similarly, new interventional roles are required of family members. The resulting self-care deficit is na Rehabilitation Nurse Specialist (RNS) intervention area capable of using its specific skills in patient rehabilitation. This report deals with the common and specific competences developed to obtain the RNS title. It portrays the various activities and interventions implemented during the course of clinical teaching, with subsequent analysis and reflection on their impact on the development of competencies. It also seeks to reveal the relevance of the role of the RNS in promoting self-care on the return home of the person with heart disease. The nursing theory that supports such care is that of Dorothea Orem, whose concept of self-care indicates the person's capacity for autonomy in his health process, using it to his own advantage to promote his quality of life. It is the RNS, which through its knowledge and skills guides its professional practice according to the needs expressed by the patient and families. Likewise, discharge planning, due to the resulting transitions, lacks the full attention of the RNS and contributes to this satisfactory process. It is responsible for the development of communication areas between professional and institutional articulation. Finally, it reveals the importance of CR in preventing disease, in empowering the patient, and in maximizing their independence.

First-time stroke survivors and caregivers' perceptions of being engaged in rehabilitation.

AIM: To explore community-dwelling first-time stroke survivors and family caregivers' perceptions of being engaged in stroke rehabilitation. BACKGROUND: Stroke is recognized as a worldwide common healthcare problem and the leading cause of adult disability. An holistic approach to rehabilitation can only be achieved by engaging stroke survivors and caregivers in all stages of recovery and by providing ongoing coordinated rehabilitation programmes. DESIGN: An interpretive study design was applied to the study. METHOD: In-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 community-dwelling first-time stroke survivors and caregivers were conducted in 2013. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Four major themes were identified. First, participants demonstrated low health literacy in stroke and their needs to learn about the disease and rehabilitation were usually ignored in busy clinical settings prior to discharge from hospital. Second, there was a lack of communication and continuity of treatment when the stroke survivors were transferred from one institution to another. Third, challenged with fragmented post-discharge rehabilitation services, the participants perceived that nurse-led coordination of rehabilitation was desirable. Fourth, participants perceived ongoing changing of rehabilitation goals in different stages of recovery. They expected to be engaged in ongoing rehabilitation planning and programmes. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study challenge service providers to realize a true partnership with stroke survivors and caregivers by working with them as one team that is led by nurses. Making the necessary changes requires mutual effort at both the systemic and individual levels with rehabilitation nurse-led coordination of rehabilitation programmes.

Medical reconciliation of dietary supplements: don't ask, don't tell.

OBJECTIVE: To explore inpatient reconciliation of dietary supplement (DS) use and determine characteristics associated with DS documentation. METHODS: We analyzed DS use among 558 inpatients recruited from the Re-Engineered Discharge clinical trial to identify: (1) if patients self-reported DS and (2) if DS use was documented at admission. We examined socio-demographics for association with documentation using chi squares and t-tests. Logistic regression was performed to assess adjusted associations with DS documentation. RESULTS: Sixty percent reported DS use (n=333). Among users, 36% had admission DS documentation, 20% were asked about use at admission, 18% reported disclosing use to a provider, and 48% reported they would continue to use DS. Overall, 6% of participants were asked, disclosed, and had documentation of DS. Logistic regression revealed increased age associated with lower odds of DS documentation. Identifying as Hispanic or African American reduces DS documentation odds compared to those identifying as white. CONCLUSIONS: There is lack of consistent DS medical reconciliation in the inpatient setting. While more than half of patients used DS prior to hospitalization, most were not asked about use on admission. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study adds to literature on medical reconciliation which requires that providers inquire and document patient DS use.

Engaging the Family, The Family Conference

Family engagement should be part of a holistic management of any patient. This is especially so in patients who have an acute change in their health condition or function that stresses their social setup. Conducting a family conference is one of the many ways to engage patients and their caregivers and address their bio-psycho-social needs. It is a focused and purposeful approach that engages every member of the health care team and family members in facilitating a common understanding and decision-making with the aim of improving patient care and outcome. A family conference is resource intensive, and should be planned well to maximise the goals that it was set out to achieve. This article was written as a primer to help family physicians understand the indications, preparations needed, and steps to take in conducting a family conference. To facilitate a family conference confidently is a skill and an art that requires practice and constant refinement.

Reconceptualizing children's complex discharge with health systems theory: novel integrative review with embedded expert consultation and theory development.

AIM: To report a novel review to develop a health systems model of successful transition of children with complex healthcare needs from hospital to home. BACKGROUND: Children with complex healthcare needs commonly experience an expensive, ineffectual and prolonged nurse-led discharge process. Children gain no benefit from prolonged hospitalization and are exposed to significant harm. Research to enable intervention development and process evaluation across the entire health system is lacking. DESIGN: Novel mixed-method integrative review informed by health systems theory. DATA  SOURCES: CINAHL, PsychInfo, EMBASE, PubMed, citation searching, personal contact. REVIEW  METHODS: Informed by consultation with experts. English language studies, opinion/discussion papers reporting research, best practice and experiences of children, parents and healthcare professionals and purposively selected policies/guidelines from 2002-December 2012 were abstracted using Framework synthesis, followed by iterative theory development. RESULTS: Seven critical factors derived from thirty-four sources across five health system levels explained successful discharge (new programme theory). All seven factors are required in an integrated care pathway, with a dynamic communication loop to facilitate effective discharge (new programme logic). Current health system responses were frequently static and critical success factors were commonly absent, thereby explaining ineffectual discharge. CONCLUSION: The novel evidence-based model, which reconceptualizes 'discharge' as a highly complex longitudinal health system intervention, makes a significant contribution to global knowledge to drive practice development. Research is required to develop process and outcome measures at different time points in the discharge process and future trials are needed to determine the effectiveness of integrated health system discharge models.

Discharge planning in mental health care: an integrative review of the literature.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify the evidence base related to discharge planning in the context of acute and community mental healthcare service provision to ascertain the need for future research. BACKGROUND: Discharge planning is an important activity when preparing consumers to transition from hospital to home. The efficiency of discharge planning for consumers living with a mental health issue can influence both the number of future readmissions to acute-care facilities and their quality of life at home. DESIGN: An integrative review of the peer-reviewed literature. METHOD: This review uses specific search terms and a 21-year time frame to search two key nursing databases CINAHL (Cinahl Information Systems, Glendale, CA, USA) and PSYCHINFO (American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, USA) for research reports investigating the substantive area of enquiry. Hand searches of reference lists and author searches were also conducted. Nineteen peer-reviewed journal articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. RESULTS: Research findings about discharge planning for people living with a mental health issue identify the importance of communication between health professionals, consumers and their families to maximise the effectiveness of this process. The complexity of consumer's healthcare needs influences the discharge planning process and impacts on aftercare compliance and readmission rates. There is a limited amount of research findings relating to differences between health professionals and families' perceptions of the level of information required for effective discharge planning, and the appropriate level of involvement of individuals living with a mental health issue in their own discharge planning. Results from this integrative review will inform future research related to this topic. CONCLUSION: Discharge planning for consumers living with a mental health issue involves many stakeholders who have different expectations regarding the type of information required and the necessary level of involvement of people living with a mental health issue in this process. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Comprehensive discharge planning can result in reduced readmissions to both acute and community mental health services. Understanding the impact of effective communication on the outcomes of discharge planning is an important step in promoting success.

A retrospective study of the factors tended to transfer to palliative home care from palliative care unit at a comprehensive cancer center in Japan

<b>Background</b>: The palliative care unit (PCU) at the National Cancer Center Hospital East changed the administrative policy to strengthen the transition to palliative home care. This study aimed to identify the factors tended to transfer to palliative home care in Japan. <b>Methods</b>: We reviewed the medical records of consecutive cancer patients admitted to our PCU during period from October 2010 until September 2011. Patients with performance status 4 and duplication were excluded in this study. We identified variables associated with the discharged group and the others group, using the univariate and multivariate analyses. <b>Results</b>: There were 223 patients (Pts) during periods, 63 Pts (28.3%) discharged to palliative home care and 160 Pts (71.7%) deceased in our PCU. Univariate and multivariate analysis identified: admission from their own home, a good PS of ≤ 2, good oxygen saturation, a good amount of oral intake, maintain of PS at day 15, no dyspnea and no abdominal distention as predictions of a transition to home from our PCU. <b>Conclusion</b>: Our study indicated the factors tended to transfer to palliative home care from PCU in Japan, however this study had some limitations. A prospective study is required to validate these factors.