Publication details

Postdischarge telephone follow-up among chronic disease patients discharged from a vascular surgery service: a best practice implementation project

Authors

SOUSA Pedro CARDOSO Daniela VRBOVÁ Tereza APOSTOLO Joao SANTOS Margarida MANSO Gracinda MOURAO Daniel FERREIRA Goreti MONTEIRO Manuela MANATA Jacinta VAZ Alexandre KLUGAROVÁ Jitka KLUGAR Miloslav

Year of publication 2023
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source JBI EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Web https://journals.lww.com/ijebh/fulltext/2023/12001/postdischarge_telephone_follow_up_among_chronic.3.aspx
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/XEB.0000000000000380
Keywords chronic disease; evidence implementation; patient discharge; telephone follow-up; vascular disease
Description Objectives:To improve postdischarge telephone follow-up in the context of chronic disease management (peripheral artery disease), in a vascular surgery service.Introduction:Patients with chronic diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, present a higher risk of complications and greater constraints regarding their adherence to treatment, leading to an increasing mortality rate and decreased functional capacity. Comprehensive discharge planning plus postdischarge telephone follow-up may reduce 30-day re-hospitalization rates.Methods:The project used the JBI audit and feedback methodological approach to implement the best available evidence into practice. Two audit criteria were used: existence of comprehensive discharge planning and timely telephone follow-up. A baseline audit was conducted, followed by analysis of barriers, which led to the implementation of several strategies, namely, a targeted training program, the development of educational resources and standardized procedures for the discharge process, and postdischarge telephone follow-up.Results:Results from the baseline and first follow-up audits showed improvement for both criteria. Compliance for criterion 1 (comprehensive discharge planning, including postdischarge telephone follow-up) increased from 0% to 40.7%, and for criterion 2 (patient is followed up by telephone within 2 weeks of discharge) increased from 0% to 44.4%. These two criteria sustained improvements in the second follow-up audit: compliance increased to 45% (criterion 1) and 60% (criterion 2).Conclusions:This implementation project contributed to the optimization of the chronic disease management, including improved compliance with discharge planning and early postdischarge telephone follow-up.

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.

More info