Transitions of Care: Improving Discharge Teaching in Stroke Patients

Abstract

Approximately 13% of individuals who experience a stroke require readmission shortly after discharge due to preventable causes. A patient factor for readmission is the patient’s health literacy level and stroke understanding. Improving patient health literacy through systematic discharge education significantly improves the patient’s knowledge. In this quality improvement project, the author educated nurses on targeted discharge education to increase patients’ understanding and attendance at follow-up appointments. In a major teaching institute in North Carolina, a targeted discharge teaching plan was prepared. Using the patient’s medical history, nurses were educated on explaining to the patient their individual risk factors for a stroke and risk for a repeat stroke. The nurses were further educated on the importance of patients’ attendance at their follow-up appointments and the recognition of the signs and symptoms of a stroke. Prior to the education sessions, many nurses did not believe they had any impact on patients’ understanding, attendance at follow-up appointments, ability to help patients prevent a repeat stroke, or played a vital role. Following the education sessions, almost all nurses believed that they had an impact on patients’ understanding, attendance at follow-up appointments, ability to help patients prevent a repeat stroke, and that nurses play a vital role. Educating nurses on targeted discharge techniques will improve the discharge education provided. Effective discharge education improves stroke literacy and can have an impact on patients’ attendance at follow-up appointments.