The association between hospital nurses’ perspectives on their information practices and quality of care transitions in older patients: A nation-wide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The main aim of the current study is to provide updated knowledge on hospital nurses’ assessments of quality of care transitions in older patients in Norway. A secondary aim is to analyse to what extent these assessments are associated with perceived information practices.

Methods: Nation-wide cross-sectional web-based survey conducted in 2017 including hospital nurses involved in the discharge of older (≥ 65 years) patients (N=1,785). Four items were used to measure different aspects of quality of transitional care in older patients. Information practices were operationalised as Medical information; Follow-up Information, Cross-sectoral contact. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse associations.

Results: Seven out of ten respondents perceived that the older patient feels safe in the transition. Six out of ten respondents perceived that the patient was well informed about the availability of community services, and six out of ten perceived that the patient was well informed about the timing of discharge. Only a little over half of the nurses agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that the patient knows where to turn in case of complications. More positive assessments of quality of care transitions were associated with better perceived information practice (i.e. Follow-up) Almost 50 % of the nurses wanted more contact with community nurses. A stronger perceived need for more contact was negatively associated with all four aspects of quality of care transitions.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a need for more telephone contact and face to face contact over and above the digital/electronic contacts between hospital- and community care nurses to improve quality of care transitions in older patients.