A phenomenological study: How senior adult patients understand and apply discharge instructions

Even after optimal treatment in a hospital, patients frequently have considerable clinical setbacks shortly after discharge, leading to hospital readmissions. A rationale to reduce hospital readmissions exists, indicating the critical junction of patient health, safety, satisfaction, cost, and quality of patient-centered care. Nurses and other health care professionals are accountable for providing quality care, ensuring patient safety, and remaining within hospital cost constraints. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore senior adult patients' lived-experiences of understanding hospital discharge instructions to reduce readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Study participants of this qualitative phenomenological study were patients 65 or older. Thirteen face-to-face interviews were conducted to examine study participants' lived-experiences of understanding and applying discharge instructions at home. During analysis of the research data three themes emerged describing lived-experiences of study participants. Themes consisted of study participants' emotional reactions, assimilation of new knowledge, and underpinnings for a rehospitalization. Influential implications for nurse leaders, nurses, and health care professionals to improve the hospital discharge process are presented in this qualitative phenomenological study.