Factors predicting a successful post-discharge outcome for individuals aged 80 years and over

Introduction and background: The early post-discharge period is a vulnerable time for older patients with complex care requirements. This paper identifies factors predicting a self-reported successful post-discharge outcome for patients aged 80 and over by exploring factors related to the discharge process, the provision of formal home-care services, informal care and characteristics of the patients.

Methods: The study reports results from survey interviews with patients admitted from home to 14 hospitals in Norway and later discharged home. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of a number of factors on the likelihood that the patients would report that they managed well after discharge.

Results: The odds of managing well after discharge were more than four times higher (OR=4.75, p= .022) for patients reporting that someone was present at homecoming than for those who came home to an empty house. Patients who reported receiving adequate help from the municipality had an odds four times (OR 4.18, p= .006) higher of reporting that everything went well after discharge than those who stated the help was inadequate.

Conclusions: Having someone at home upon return from hospital and having adequate formal home-care services are significantly associated with patient-reported success in managing well.