Abstract CN82
Background
Increasing number of cancer patients with complex needs are discharged to their own home. To perform person-centered and high quality care, discharge should be planned in accordance with patients’ individual needs, because studies have shown that it improves the transition from hospital to home. Still, patients experience that they are not involved in the planning of their discharge. To optimize discharge, several nursing discharge coordinators are employed at Danish hospitals, including Department of Oncology, Lillebealt Hospital, Vejle. The Discharge coordinator are employed to plan and manage discharge of patients with complex needs. Knowledge about patients’ experience of being involved in the planning of their discharge is however, limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore patients’ experience of being involved in the planning of their discharge, when a discharge coordinator planned and manage the discharge in collaboration with the patient.
Methods
A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was chosen to capture patients´ experience of being involved and collaborating with a discharge coordinator. Qualitative telephone interviews were conducted based on a semi structured interview guide. The data were analyzed in the three interpretative contexts: self-understanding, a critical common-sense and a theoretical understanding, described by Kvale.
Results
Six patients’, aged 63-93 years, with complex needs were interviewed. Based on the analysis, three prominent themes have emerged: 1) Security in one´s own home, 2) Transparency in planning and, 3) Seeing me as a unique person.
Conclusions
A discharge process is more than just uncovering needs and initiating help at home. A discharge process, which is in accordance with patient’s preferences and needs and planned in collaboration with a discharge coordinator, is associated with the experience of being seen as a unique person. Witch are based on the needs, life phenomena and concerns that the individual person raises. It is transparent to all parties involved, and patients experience security in their own home after discharge. In conclusion, patients experienced a greater ability to manage the transition from hospital to home.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Department of Oncology, Lillebealt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.