Study of factors affecting readmission of elders

Abstract

The study was conducted in the district of Kalutara in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is the largest district in the Western Province, and consists of 10.7 percent urban and 89.3 percent rural population. Panadura Base Hospital was selected for this study, it has one medical unit consists of one male and one female wards. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the prevalence and characteristics of patient related factors as well as hospital related factors for the readmission of elderly patients aged 60 years and above to medical unit. In the medical unit 403 elderly patients were selected during the study period of 12 week. The response rate was 95.5 percent. Among the admitted elders found that 191 ( 47.4 percent) were readmitted within 12 months of discharge, and 44 ( 10.9 percent) were within 30 days of discharge from these wards. Data collection was performed by using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire with close type questions. The questionnaire consists of demographic factors, health status, compliance, pre-discharge activities, health education, follow up, and readmission. Among the readmitted elderly patients prevalence of main diseases were heart disease ( 29.8 percent), respiratory disorders ( 27.7 percent), hypertension ( 12 percent), and diabetes mellitus ( 11 percent). The readmissions of elders in the age group of 60 to 75 years were 162 ( 84.8 percent), and in 76 and above were 29 ( 15.2 percent). Readmissions in male and female elderly patients were 99 ( 51.8 percent) and 92 ( 48.2 percent respectively. Improvements are needed in preventive as well as in curative care activities in medical units to reduce the readmission of elderly patients. If the diseases in elders are identified early, they can be managed at out patient clinics. Therefore, effective measures to be taken to screen for common diseases of elderly patients. Regular clinic attendance, good compliance in drug intake, and good healthy living practices should be improved in elderly patients to reduce hospital admissions in future. In medical unit further improvements are needed in pre-discharge assessment, health education, and appropriate follow up instructions before discharge of elderly patients

The study was conducted in the district of Kalutara in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is the largest district in the Western Province, and consists of 10.7 percent urban and 89.3 percent rural population. Panadura Base Hospital was selected for this study, it has one medical unit consists of one male and one female wards. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the prevalence and characteristics of patient related factors as well as hospital related factors for the readmission of elderly patients aged 60 years and above to medical unit. In the medical unit 403 elderly patients were selected during the study period of 12 week. The response rate was 95.5 percent. Among the admitted elders found that 191 ( 47.4 percent) were readmitted within 12 months of discharge, and 44 ( 10.9 percent) were within 30 days of discharge from these wards. Data collection was performed by using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire with close type questions. The questionnaire consists of demographic factors, health status, compliance, pre-discharge activities, health education, follow up, and readmission. Among the readmitted elderly patients prevalence of main diseases were heart disease ( 29.8 percent), respiratory disorders ( 27.7 percent), hypertension ( 12 percent), and diabetes mellitus ( 11 percent). The readmissions of elders in the age group of 60 to 75 years were 162 ( 84.8 percent), and in 76 and above were 29 ( 15.2 percent). Readmissions in male and female elderly patients were 99 ( 51.8 percent) and 92 ( 48.2 percent respectively. Improvements are needed in preventive as well as in curative care activities in medical units to reduce the readmission of elderly patients. If the diseases in elders are identified early, they can be managed at out patient clinics. Therefore, effective measures to be taken to screen for common diseases of elderly patients. Regular clinic attendance, good compliance in drug intake, and good healthy living practices should be improved in elderly patients to reduce hospital admissions in future. In medical unit further improvements are needed in pre-discharge assessment, health education, and appropriate follow up instructions before discharge of elderly patients