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GP perspectives on hospital discharge letters : an interview and focus group study

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Weetman, Katharine, Dale, Jeremy, Spencer, Rachel, Scott, Emma and Schnurr, Stephanie (2020) GP perspectives on hospital discharge letters : an interview and focus group study. BJGP Open, 4 (2). bjgpopen20X101031. doi:10.3399/bjgpopen20X101031 ISSN 2398-3795.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen20X101031

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Abstract

Background: Written discharge communication following inpatient or outpatient clinic discharge is essential for communicating information to the GP, but GPs’ opinions on discharge communication are seldom sought. Patients are sometimes copied into this communication, but the reasons for this variation, and the resultant effects, remain unclear.

Aim: To explore GP perspectives on how discharge letters can be improved in order to enhance patient outcomes.

Design & setting: The study used narrative interviews with 26 GPs from 13 GP practices within the West Midlands, England.

Method: Interviews were transcribed and data were analysed using corpus linguistics (CL) techniques.

Results Elements pivotal to a successful letter were: diagnosis, appropriate follow-up plan, medication changes and reasons, clinical summary, investigations and/or procedures and outcomes, and what information has been given to the patient. GPs supported patients receiving discharge letters and expounded a number of benefits of this practice; for example, increased patient autonomy. Nevertheless, GPs felt that if patients are to receive direct discharge letter copies, modifications such as use of lay language and avoidance of acronyms may be required to increase patient understanding.

Conclusion: GPs reported that discharge letters frequently lacked content items they assessed to be important; GPs highlighted that this can have subsequent ramifications on resources and patient experiences. Templates should be devised that put discharge letter elements assessed to be important by GPs to the forefront. Future research needs to consider other perspectives on letter content, particularly those of patients.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Applied Linguistics
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Communication in medicine, Physicians (General practice), Patient discharge instructions, Physician and patient, Hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- Case studies
Journal or Publication Title: BJGP Open
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
ISSN: 2398-3795
Official Date: 23 June 2020
Dates:
DateEvent
23 June 2020Published
12 May 2020Available
12 November 2019Accepted
Volume: 4
Number: 2
Article Number: bjgpopen20X101031
DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen20X101031
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit: 21 May 2020
Date of first compliant Open Access: 21 May 2020
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
ES/J500203/1 [ESRC] Economic and Social Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269
UNSPECIFIEDClinical Commissioning GroupsUNSPECIFIED
Is Part Of: 1

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