Improving Patient Understanding of Emergency Department Discharge Instructions.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that patients in the emergency department (ED) are frequently given incomplete discharge instructions that are written at least four grade levels above the recommended sixth-grade reading level, leading to poor understanding. Our aims in this study were to implement standardized discharge instructions containing six key components written at a more appropriate reading level for common emergency department (ED) diagnoses to improve patient understanding.

Methods

We conducted this study in a 20-bed ED at an urban Veteran's Administration hospital. Data was collected via in-person patient and clinician interviews. Patient interviews were conducted after patients received their discharge instructions. We compared patient responses to clin

SUBMITTER: Russell S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11610731 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature