Changes in discharge needs and satisfaction of family caregivers of frail elders during the discharge transition

This longitudinal study was designed to explore the discharge needs and needs satisfaction of frail elders' family caregivers during the discharge transition. A total of 131 pairs of frail elders and their family caregivers from neuro-medical wards in a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results showed that: (1) The total needs and specific needs were higher before discharge than one week and one month after discharge. The rank order of the discharge needs, from high to low, was health care information services, health care services, emotional support services, and manpower support services. (2) The needs satisfaction at one week after discharge was the same as at one month after discharge. The rank order of needs satisfaction, from high to low, was health care services, health care information services, manpower support services, and emotional support services. The findings of this study suggest that during the discharge transition before discharge is the time of most needs and is an important time for developing nursing interventions. The "caregiver discharge needs and satisfaction assessment tool" can be used in clinical for practice assessment of the discharge needs and needs satisfaction of frail elders' family caregivers during the dis-charge transition.