Exploring consumer and healthcare professional perspectives on discharge medicine communication and solutions for safer transitions of care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The period immediately following hospital discharge is a time of heightened vulnerability for patients compounded by poor communication and information transfer between hospital and primary care healthcare professionals. These gaps contribute to medication-related harm, which accounts for a substantial proportion of preventable readmissions and emergency department presentations. This study explored the perspectives of consumers and healthcare professionals on discharge medicine information handover to inform the development of an intervention to improve transitions of care.

Methods

Qualitative methodology was used through focus group discussions in Southeast Queensland, Australia, between March-August 2024. Participants included hospital-based doctors, nurses, an

SUBMITTER: Oldfield LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12821814 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature