Kevin J. O’Leary|Nita Kulkarni|Matthew P. Landler|Jiyeon Jeon|Katherine Hahn|Katherine M. Englert|Mark Williams
Hospitalized Patients' Understanding of Their Plan of Care
Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University
evaluate hospitalized patients understanding plan careinterviews crosssectional sample hospitalized patients physicians conducted june 6 june 26 2008 patients asked whether knew name physician nurse responsible care specific questions 6 aspects plan care day primary diagnosis planned tests planned procedures medication changes physician services consulted expected length stay physicians interviewed asked plan care fashion patients two boardcertified internists reviewed responses rated patientphysician agreement aspect plan care none partial complete agreementof 250 eligible patients 241 96 agreed interviewed total 233 97 241 physicians completed interview although sample sizes vary missing data elements 239 patients 77 32 correctly named least 1 hospital physicians 143 patients 60 correctly named nurses aspect care patients physicians lacked agreement plan care large number instances specifically agreement patients physicians planned tests procedures day 87 38 231 corrected instances 22 10 231 corrected instances complete agreement anticipated length stay occurred 85 39 218 instancesa substantial portion hospitalized patients understand plan care patients limited understanding plan care may adversely affect ability provide informed consent hospital treatments assume care discharge