Exploring discharge practices of older people in the acute hospital
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A critical analysis of discharge practices of older people in the acute hospital setting: exploring the implications for person-centred discharge practice.
IRAS ID
269367
Contact name
Gemma R Logan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Margaret University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study will involve an in-depth exploration of the discharge practices of older people in the acute hospital setting to identify how existing practice helps or hinders effective person-centred discharge. It builds on existing evidence identifying challenges in discharge practice and a need for improvement in processes.
The study will take place in two wards at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with a Medicine of the Elderly (MOE) focus, and areas of the wider organisation influential to discharge practice in the included wards.
Data will be collected through observation of practice, health records review, unscheduled informal conversations and semi-structured interviews.
A period of 4-6 months will be spent in each ward undertaking data collection. Observation of practice will initially focus on staff discharge practice, involving the recruitment of all members of staff involved in, or influential to the discharge of older people from the included wards. Consent will be sought separately for observation of practice and unscheduled informal conversations.
After a period of one month, the observation of older person specific discharge practice will commence, involving the recruitment of older people in the process of being discharged. Consent will be sought separately for observation of practice and health records review. In addition, older person participants will nominate a person(s) significant to them for study inclusion, with consent sought for observation of practice.
To enable in-depth exploration of the perspectives of key stakeholders, a maximum of 6 older people, 6 significant persons and 10 members of staff will be selected from each ward to undertake a semi-structured interview.
A final period of 4-6 months will be scheduled to complete data analysis and undertake dissemination activities. Data analysis will enable the delineation and grouping of discharge practices, facilitated through the use of the person-centred practice framework to enable understanding of the implications for person-centred discharge.
REC name
Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only
REC reference
19/SS/0125
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion