Affiliation:
1. School of Nursing Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
2. Outpatient Department The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Nanchang China
3. Department of Thoracic Surgery Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
Abstract
AbstractAimTo examine the level and influencing factors of discharge readiness among patients with oesophageal cancer following oesophagectomy and to explore its association with post‐discharge outcomes (post‐discharge coping difficulty and unplanned readmission).BackgroundOesophageal cancer is common and usually treated via oesophagectomy in China. The assessment of patient's discharge readiness gradually attracts attention as patients tend to be discharged more quickly.DesignProspective observational study. The STROBE statement was followed.MethodsIn total, 154 participants with oesophageal cancer after oesophagectomy were recruited in a tertiary cancer centre in Southern China from July 2019 to January 2020. The participants completed a demographic and disease‐related questionnaire, the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale and Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale before discharge. Post‐discharge outcomes were investigated on the 21st day (post‐discharge coping difficulty) and 30th day (unplanned readmission) after discharge separately. Multiple linear regressions were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe mean scores of discharge readiness and quality of discharge teaching were (154.02 ± 31.58) and (138.20 ± 24.20) respectively. The quality of discharge teaching, self‐care ability, dysphagia and primary caregiver mainly influenced patient's discharge readiness and explained 63.0% of the variance. The low discharge readiness could predict more risk of post‐discharge coping difficulty (r = −0.729, p < 0.01) and unplanned readmission (t = −2.721, p < 0.01).ConclusionsDischarge readiness among patients with oesophageal cancer following oesophagectomy is influenced by various factors, especially the quality of discharge teaching. A high discharge readiness corresponds to good post‐discharge outcomes.Implications for the Profession and Patient CareHealthcare professionals should improve the discharge readiness by constructing high‐quality discharge teaching, cultivating patients' self‐care ability, mobilizing family participation and alleviating dysphagia to decrease adverse post‐discharge outcomes among patients with oesophageal cancer.Patients or Public ContributionPatients with oesophageal cancer after oesophagectomy who met the inclusion criteria were recruited.