[Room for improvement of patient education delivered at time of hospital discharge].

Abstract

Suboptimal patient education at discharge has been observed in many situations and is related to medication errors, complications and readmissions. The aim of this observational study was to improve patient education at the time of discharge and was performed in two academic hospitals in the United States. During a 14 month period 33 patients were observed during discharge conversation. The different domains that should be part of this patient education moment like self-management, changes in medication, reasons for contact were according to the researchers substandard. In this commentary we concluded that although this study has shortcomings, the situation and observations will probably be the same in the Netherlands. Research on personalized patient education at discharge should focus on relevant outcome parameters and interventions and this can only start in dialogue with patients.