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Discharge from an emergency department observation unit and a surgical assessment unit: experiences of patients with acute abdominal pain

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  • Helen Schultz
  • Niels Qvist
  • Christian B Mogensen
  • Birthe D Pedersen

Abstract

Aims and objectives To investigate the experiences of patients with acute abdominal pain at discharge from an emergency department observation unit compared with discharge from a surgical assessment unit. Background The increase in emergency department observation units has increased short‐term admissions and changed the patient journey from admission and discharge from specialised wards staffed by specialist nurses to admission and discharge from units staffed by emergency nurses. Design A comparative qualitative interview study. Methods The study included 20 patients: 10 from an emergency department observation unit and 10 from a surgical assessment unit, and took a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach. Patients were interviewed at discharge and three months later. Results More patients from the emergency department observation unit experienced readiness for discharge and had plans for follow‐up, compared with patients from the surgical assessment unit. In the surgical assessment unit, more patients were readmitted, had unanswered questions after three months and experienced a follow‐up visit at the general practitioner as insufficient. More patients from the surgical assessment unit reported receiving useful self‐care advice, compared with those from the emergency department observation unit. Conclusion The experience of emergency department observation unit patients on discharge and follow‐up was that the health professionals were more supportive, compared with surgical assessment unit patients, who felt discharge occurred too early, but with more preparation for independent home self‐care. These results are an important factor in the patient experience of discharge from hospital and may reflect differences in specialisation of the nurses. Relevance to clinical practice Units discharging patients with acute abdominal pain could be inspired by scheduled fast‐track surgery programmes with structured information about admission, treatment and follow‐up and easy access to relevant health professionals after discharge.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Schultz & Niels Qvist & Christian B Mogensen & Birthe D Pedersen, 2014. "Discharge from an emergency department observation unit and a surgical assessment unit: experiences of patients with acute abdominal pain," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(19-20), pages 2779-2789, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:23:y:2014:i:19-20:p:2779-2789
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.12527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Berith Wennström & Margareta Warrén Stomberg & Marina Modin & Stefan Skullman, 2010. "Patient symptoms after colonic surgery in the era of enhanced recovery – a long‐term follow‐up," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(5‐6), pages 666-672, March.
    2. Anne Mottram, 2011. "‘They are marvellous with you whilst you are in but the aftercare is rubbish’: a grounded theory study of patients’ and their carers’ experiences after discharge following day surgery," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(21‐22), pages 3143-3151, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eva Jangland & Therese Teodorsson & Karin Molander & Åsa Muntlin Athlin, 2018. "Inadequate environment, resources and values lead to missed nursing care: A focused ethnographic study on the surgical ward using the Fundamentals of Care framework," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(11-12), pages 2311-2321, June.
    2. Alexander Tegelberg & Eva Jangland & Claes Juhlin & Åsa Muntlin Athlin, 2019. "Who is in charge of the care of patients with acute abdominal pain? An interview study with managers across the acute care chain," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(19-20), pages 3641-3650, October.

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