Previous studies have established that older adults have indicated that they were poorly prepared for hospital discharge. They were inadequately informed about their medications, restrictions on activity and diet, danger signals, and how to help their own recovery, they have said. Nurse researcher Ruth Kleinpell tested the use of the Discharge Planning Questionnaire (DPQ), a 51-question aid for early discharge planning, with elderly patients (65 years or older) in the ICU. Patients randomized to the intervention group (n = 43) were screened using the DPQ within 48 hours of ICU admission; the results were provided to the discharge planning nurse when the patients were transferred to a general unit. Patients in the control group (n = 53) were not screened and received standard discharge planning.

In responses to a questionnaire mailed two weeks after discharge, patients in the intervention group scored higher in general health and emotional health, and more reported that they had adequate information and knew their medications and potential complications than did those in the control group.

Kleinpell RM. Am J Crit Care 2004; 13(4):335-45.