A DESCRIPTION OF MEDICATION DISCHARGE EDUCATION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH HEART DISEASE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HOSPITAL READMISSION.
Contributors: Ohio State University.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 175
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Education, Adult and Continuing.
Description: Older adults with heart disease are among the greatest users of hospital care and are readmitted within 3 months at a rate twice that of all older adults. Medication discharge education (MDE) has been associated with delayed readmission. The purposes of this study were to describe the process and experience of MDE and to determine how well MDE characteristics predicted readmission.

A convenience sample of 114 subjects, 70 years of age or older and available family members were interviewed after discharge from one of two hospitals. Additional sources of data were subjects' medical records, staff Registered Nurses, teaching materials, and non-participant observation.

This study revealed that the information needs of subjects are not all the same and families often help elders manage medications. Subjects and their families wanted handouts as well as a discussion about their medication regimens. They also wanted family to be involved in MDE, to receive information about potential side effects of medications, to learn about medications throughout their hospitalization, have a review at discharge, and be offered help in devising a medication schedule. Nurses say they believe MDE is important yet often they lack sufficient time to deliver it. Although nurses do informal MDE throughout hospitalization, patients may not remember it or realize the significance of it. The depth of MDE provided by nurses is often driven by questions and interest expressed by patients.

Thirty-five percent of subjects were readmitted within three months. Twelve MDE related variables were analyzed for their association with rehospitalization by 3 months. Of the variables, only age was associated with readmission (chi sq 4.918, p =.027, phi = $-$.208) with those over age 75 being readmitted less often. Logistic regression analysis yielded a model for predicting readmission which included age group, MDE score, and alcohol use (p =.103). MDE related variables were more predictable for persons over 75 years of age than they were for persons between ages 70 and 74.

This study provides baseline knowledge about the process of MDE and its relationship with readmission. It yields implications for the delivery of MDE and further research of the MDE process.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-06, Section: B, page: 2157.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, 1994.

School code: 0168.