WIP 15 - Improving Caregivers’ Understanding of Hospitalization and Post-discharge Care Plan by Improving Communication Amongst the Medical Team and Families

Poster Number: WIP 15
Publication Number: WIP 15.918

Background: Communication between the medical team and caregivers during hospitalization influences how caregivers understand diagnoses, hospital care, and post-discharge care plans. An estimated 88% of Americans have poor health literacy which contributes to decreased understanding. Existing research is focused primarily on identifying the level of caregivers’ health literacy, improving family centered rounds, assessing/improving discharge readiness, and improving discharge instructions. In addition to several common interventions, this project implemented a novel hospitalization pamphlet which was utilized as a teach-back tool during rounds.

Objective: The aim of our study is to increase the averages between the post- pre- surveys at time of discharge (which are indicative of caregivers’ understanding of their child’s hospitalization and discharge) by 25% from baseline in 12 months.

Design/Methods: We utilized the Plan Do Study Act method within a tertiary academic institution. Our multi-disciplinary team included pediatric hospitalist attendings and fellows, nursing leadership, and the Family Advisory Board. Data was obtained from caregivers using Likert scales in a post-pre- survey at the time of discharge. Our baseline surveys were collected for three months prior to implementing the following three PDSA cycles: first, “My Child’s Hospitalization Pamphlet” a tool to help facilitate teach-back with caregivers’ on rounds, second, instructions improving the medical team’s use of the pamphlet, and third, increasing closed-loop communication with nursing via family centered rounds and nursing huddles. The outcome measures included the average improvement in caregiver understanding of diagnosis, types of physician involvement, and discharge goals. Completed surveys and use of an intervention pamphlet were tracked as process measures. Length of rounds was trended to see if the new process changed rounding time commitment. This project received expedited IRB approval.