文摘
A two-stage cross-sectional study was conducted in a 951-bedacute-care hospital: a first survey designed to determine theprofile of patients aged ≥ 64 years needing supportivesocial/health care services, in which 38 patients dischargedbetween June and July, 1992 (group 1) with social/health careproblems that accounted for inappropriate hospitalization daysparticipated, and a second survey designed to identify patientsaged ≥ 65 years at high risk and thus facilitating the earlyintervention of social workers, in which 153 patients selected at random and interviewed between August and September, 1992(group 2) participated. A significantly higher percentage ofgroup 1 patients had no medical insurance, were admitted tohospital for treatment, lived alone, had been readmitted in theprevious 6 months, suffered from dementia and/or cognitiveimpairment, presented with associated chronic illnesses, andshowed lower Barthel index scores as compared to group 2patients. In patients in group 2, hospital discharge was delayeddue to the need of supportive social and health care services inonly 27 patients. The percentage of agreement in the suitabilityof the resource provided was higher after (92.6%) than before theintervention (71.1%). The mean number of inappropriatehospitalization days was 3.5 days for patients in group 1 and 1.9days for those in group 2 (p = 0.013). The early identificationof elderly inpatients at high risk of needing additionalsupportive social and health care would help patients to find themost appropriate resource according to their individuals needs.
