What do readers need? Qualitative requirements of medical discharge summaries from the recipients' perspective.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Discharge summaries (DSs) are the primary communication tools in clinical medicine. The transfer of information and plans is essential to ensure consistent patient safety and continuity of care. Therefore, DSs play a key role in population health. However, the overall quality of DSs is considered deficient, and there is a notable lack of scientific knowledge and research in this field, particularly regarding the needs of physicians as the primary recipients of DSs and key providers of ongoing patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore their requirements concerning the content, structure, and processing of DSs.

Methods

A total of 159 outpatient primary care physicians (general practitioners, GPs) and specialists who refer patients to hospitals for vario

SUBMITTER: Unnewehr M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11995522 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature