From Hospital to Post-Acute Care Organisations: The Relationship Between Patient Experience and Health Recovery.

Nascimento, Generosa do; Nunes, Francisco Guilherme; Anderson, Janet E

OBJECTIVE To determine to what extent patient health status and recovery in post-acute care organizations (PACO) is related to patient experience of the discharge process from hospital and to patient experience while staying in these facilities. DESIGN Longitudinal study of patients discharged from hospitals to post-acute care organizations. SETTING 12 hospitals and 14 PACO Portuguese organizations. PARTICIPANTS 181 patients participated in the both stages of data gathering. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patients' physical and mental health status was measured through the SF-36 scale. The experience of transition from hospital to post-acute care organizations was measured with the Care Transition Measure. The Picker Adult In-Patient Questionnaire was used to measure patients' experience in these organizations. RESULTS Patients reporting better physical condition in post-acute care organizations had a better experience on discharge [b = 0.21, 95% CI (0.10, 0.31)] and perceive fewer problems inside facilities [b = -0.19, 95% CI (-0.31, 0.08)]. The experience in post-acute care organizations is significantly related to patients' mental health status [b = -0.47, 95% CI (-0.59, -0.36)]. Patients showing higher levels of physical recovery had a better experience on discharge [b = -0.18, 95% CI (0.08, 0.28)], while those registering better mental recovery experienced fewer problems during their stay [b = -0.41, 95% CI (-0.52, -0.30)]. CONCLUSIONS PACO play a key role in maintaining and promoting patients' health and this goal is influenced by their experience both in the transition from hospitals to PACO and while staying in these facilities.