Social resource assessment: Application of a novel communication tool during hospital discharge

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate an interactive tool designed to help patients communicate their social resources supportive of home recovery to health care providers.

Methods: Seventy medical and surgical inpatients completed the D-CEGRM social resource interview, demographic queries, and discharge readiness surveys (RHDS) at discharge. Two weeks later, patients completed post-discharge coping difficulty surveys (PDCDS). Nurses unassociated with patients' clinical care reviewed structured clinical notes created from the D-CEGRM and categorized patients as likely to have "inadequate" or "adequate" supportive resources for home self-management. Nurse decision making was tracked using an adjudication process, and post-hoc comparisons in patient characteristics, RHDS, and PDCDS were conducted.

Results: Nurses categorized 36 patients (51%) as having inadequate resources. Number and accessibility of supports, presence of negative relationships, and previous struggles meeting health-related needs were important decision-making factors. Post-hoc comparisons revealed significant differences in demographic risk factors and discharge readiness ratings for those with inadequate vs. adequate resources.

Conclusion: The D-CEGRM may be an efficient tool for patients to communicate access to social resources, and an effective facilitator of transitional care planning.

Practice implications: The D-CEGRM may provide a useful assessment of patients' home context and guide for transitional care planning.

Keywords: Decision making; Health personnel; Patient care; Patient communication; Patient discharge; Risk factors; Self-management; Surveys and questionnaires; Transitional care.