Factors influencing readiness for hospital discharge among patients undergoing laryngectomy
Huiling Zhao, Xianqiong Feng, Rong Yu, Deying Gu, Xiaoyan Zhang
Abstract
AIM: To identify factors influencing readiness for hospital discharge among Chinese patients having undergone a laryngectomy and to provide evidence for developing future processes. BACKGROUND: Laryngectomy changes the functional and psychological state of laryngeal cancer patients considerably. However, influencing factors for discharge readiness among laryngectomy patients have hardly been investigated. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used with Meleis' transitions theory as a guiding framework. This survey-based study was performed with 212 laryngeal cancer patients undergoing laryngectomy at a regional tertiary medical centre between August 2012 and September 2013. RESULTS: Quality of discharge teaching and having a designated caregiver after discharge were found to influence patients' readiness for discharge. CONCLUSION: Clinical interventions such as nursing assessment on discharge readiness, assistance to coordinate postdischarge support and individualized follow-up planning should be integrated into future clinical processes in China. However, further investigations are needed to systematically align relevant results before clinical practices in Chinese settings are eventually changed.