Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the interventions on the readiness for hospital discharge in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. The primary outcome was the readiness for hospital discharge. The secondary outcomes were the quality of discharge teaching and the quality of life. The clinical outcomes included the results of the 6-minute walk test and the rate of unplanned readmissions. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. METHODS: A total of 92 participants admitted with heart failure were recruited from the Department of Cardiology at a tertiary hospital in Qingdao. They were randomly allocated to the control group and the intervention group. All participants received usual care. Participants in the intervention group received discharge preparation interventions. Data were collected at baseline, and at 1 month, 3 months follow-up visits. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, participants in the intervention group had significantly higher levels of the readiness for hospital discharge (P<0.001) at 1-month and 3-month follow-up (P<0.001). Patients in the intervention group had significantly higher quality of life than those in the control group at 3-month follow-up (P<0.001). Participants in the intervention group got higher scores in the 6-minute walk test than those in the control group at 3-month follow-up (P<0.001). The respective rates of unplanned readmissions in the intervention group were 11.4% and 6.8% at 1-month and 3-month follow-up. The rates for the control group were 37.2% and 32.6% at 1-month and 3-month follow-up, respectively (P = 0.005, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Discharge preparation interventions can effectively improve the readiness for hospital discharge, the quality of discharge teaching and the quality of life, as well as reduce the rate of unplanned readmission.