Completed Research Project
Discharge planning for oncology/haematology patients
Investigators: Oldham
L, Sprague C, Williams
A, Tandon A & Cooper E.
Funding: Edith Cowan University Industry Collaborative
Scheme ($20,277) and the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Nursing
Research Scholarship ($5,000)
Administering institution: Edith Cowan University
Abstract: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is regarded as the leading Oncology/Haematology referral centre for the State of WA. The Oncology/Haematology Ward of this teaching hospital admits and treats the majority of this State's adult cancer patients. Upon discharge from hospital most of these patients require extensive follow-up appointments, nursing care in the community, home help, ongoing pharmaceutical treatment and often a significant amount of psychosocial support from a chaplain, social worker or the like. The shift towards treating oncology/haematology patients as outpatients wherever possible has led to an ever increasing burden on patients and their carers to juggle the many different aspects of oncology/haematology treatment as best they can. With this in mind it becomes clear that adequate discharge planning within this specialty area, perhaps more so than any other specialty is vital. With so many different health disciplines requiring input to the discharge planning of an oncology/haematology patient it becomes difficult to ensure the quantity and quality of discharge planning is as it should be. This study addresses this research priority. Through the use of a qualitative exploratory descriptive design, this study aimed to describe the current discharge planning process in the SCGH Oncology/Haematology Ward from the perspective of patients and health professionals (nurses [ward and Silver Chain liaison], doctors, chaplains, social workers, pharmacists and occupational therapists) with the view of determining ways in which this discharge planning process can be improved. Fourteen patients were interviewed and 18 health professionals participated in either a focus group or individual interviews. Based on these interviews the perceptions of patients and health professionals about discharge planning, information and support needs and useful strategies were formulated. From this data, a comprehensive planning discharge model has been developed. This model is described as a Ward Nursing Organisational Model in which nursing teams are directed by experienced and intensively educated senior nurses who co-ordinate and monitor the assessment, planning and management of patients’ discharges. The components of the model include developing appropriate documents for monitoring the patient from admission to discharge and developing relevant education for nursing and ward staff to manage the discharge planning process effectively. Strategies for developing and sustaining this model are also reported.