2018 Volume 59 Issue 1 Pages 27-39
Using patient medical records and social-work records at Hospital A, the author investigated the differences and trends in the intentions of patients and families regarding discharge/transfer destinations, as well as the factors behind their intentions and what influence those factors have. The subjects were 204 cases who were special admission-paying patients in Hospital A's convalescent rehabilitation ward and their families, and excluded patients with no family. The analysis involved compiling data on the intentions of patients and families on discharge/transfer destinations and determining the change in their intentions between admittance time and one month after admittance, then performing statistical analyses (Mann–Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and multiple regression analysis). Results suggested the following three items: (1) Families consider discharge/transfer destinations from more diverse viewpoints than patients do; (2) regarding discharge/transfer destinations, family intentions are more apt to change than patient intentions;and (3) if patients' spouses live at home, the family score is higher, and therefore both patient and family intentions regarding discharge/transfer destinations are more likely to focus on the home. These results provided findings that are important when considering the desirable form of effective discharge/transfer support and helpful decision-making support.
