Christoph Becker|Samuel Zumbrunn|Katharina Beck|Alessia Vincent|Nina Loretz|J. Müller|Simon A. Amacher|Rainer Schaefert|Sabina Hunziker
Interventions to Improve Communication at Hospital Discharge and Rates of Readmission
University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel|University Hospital of Basel
shortcomings education patients hospital discharge associated higher risks treatment failure hospital readmission whether improving communication discharge specific interventions association patientrelevant outcomes remains unclearto conduct systematic review metaanalysis association communication interventions hospital discharge readmission rates patientrelevant outcomespubmed embase psycinfo cinahl systematically searched inception database february 28 2021randomized clinical trials randomized patients receiving discharge communication intervention control group includedtwo independent reviewers extracted data outcomes trial patient characteristics risk bias assessed using cochrane risk bias tool data pooled using randomeffects model risk ratios rrs corresponding 95 cis reported study followed preferred reporting items systematic reviews metaanalyses prisma reporting guidelinethe primary outcome hospital readmission secondary outcomes included adherence treatment regimen patient satisfaction mortality emergency department reattendance 30 days hospital dischargewe included 60 randomized clinical trials total 16 070 patients qualitative synthesis 19 trials total 3953 patients quantitative synthesis primary outcome 11 trials low risk bias 6 trials high risk bias 2 trials unclear risk bias communication interventions discharge significantly associated lower readmission rates 179 1959 patients 91 intervention groups vs 270 1994 patients 135 control groups rr 069 95 ci 056084 higher adherence treatment regimen 1729 2009 patients 861 intervention groups vs 1599 2024 patients 790 control groups rr 124 95 ci 113137 higher patient satisfaction 1187 1949 patients 609 intervention groups vs 991 2002 patients 495 control groups rr 141 95 ci 120166these findings suggest communication interventions discharge significantly associated fewer hospital readmissions higher treatment adherence higher patient satisfaction thus important facilitate transition care