Factors Correlating with the Application of the Discharge Planning Process of Professional Nurses at Suddhavej Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University.
Keywords:
discharge planning, professional nurses, organizational supportAbstract
Discharge planning is an essential process that promotes continuity of care, reduces hospital readmissions, and improves patients' quality of life. However, empirical evidence regarding factors associated with discharge planning practices among professional nurses remains limited. This descriptive correlational study aimed to examine the level of discharge planning practices and the factors associated with these practices among professional nurses. The participants consisted of 42 professional nurses working in inpatient units, who were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using four questionnaires: a demographic information questionnaire, a role perception questionnaire, an organizational support questionnaire, and a discharge planning practice questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient.
The results showed that the overall level of discharge planning practices among professional nurses was moderate (x̄ = 74.07, SD = 6.96); role perception was at a low level, while organizational support was at a moderate level. Hypothesis testing showed that personal factors including length of professional experience, discharge planning training, number of nurses on duty per day, and bed occupancy rate as well as role perception, were not significantly associated with discharge planning practices (p > .05). In contrast, organizational support was positively and significantly associated with discharge planning practices (r = 0.629, p < .001), supporting the hypothesis that organizational support in terms of policy, management, and monitoring and evaluation would be associated with these practices. These findings indicate that organizational support is a key factor that should be strengthened to enhance the effectiveness of discharge planning.
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