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Ready to Go Home? Patients’ Experiences of the Discharge Process in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program for Colorectal Surgery

  • Original Article
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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

With the adoption of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs, patients are being discharged earlier and require more post-discharge teaching, educational materials, and information.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to assess satisfaction, discharge needs, and follow-up concerns of patients within an ERAS implementation program (iERAS).

Methods

Between 2012 and 2015, the iERAS program was undertaken at an academic hospital where 554 patients having elective colorectal surgery were enrolled. After discharge, patients were sent a survey containing multiple choice questions, preference ranking, and open-ended questions. Free-text responses were analyzed through a thematic approach.

Results

Overall, 496 patients were mailed surveys and 219 (44.2%) completed the survey. Ninety-three percent were satisfied with the discharge information, and 90% felt they were ready for discharge. Eighty-six percent of patients saw their surgeon at 6 weeks, and 88% were satisfied with this follow-up plan. Some patients felt they had inadequate post-operative information, including how to resolve complications while at home and lack of reliable information for common post-operative occurrences. Patients with ostomies wanted more information about what to expect post-discharge and what symptoms were normal. Support from the homecare team and having a surgical nurse available were considered to be essential.

Conclusions

Improved post-operative education for surgical patients prior to discharge within iERAS is required to facilitate patient-centered discharge planning. Such interventions may help decrease unplanned hospital visits during the immediate post-discharge period.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    D. Jones & Robin S. McLeod

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    D. Jones, R. Musselman, E. Pearsall & Robin S. McLeod

  3. Zane Cohen Clinical Research Unit, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    E. Pearsall, M. McKenzie, H. Huang & Robin S. McLeod

  4. Institute of Health Policy Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Robin S. McLeod

  5. Cancer Care Ontario, 16th floor, 620 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada

    Robin S. McLeod

Authors
  1. D. Jones
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  2. R. Musselman
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  3. E. Pearsall
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  4. M. McKenzie
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  5. H. Huang
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  6. Robin S. McLeod
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robin S. McLeod.

Additional information

All authors meet the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship.

Dr. McLeod holds the Angelo and Alfredo De Gasperis Families Chair in Colorectal Cancer and IBD Research.

Appendix

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Jones, D., Musselman, R., Pearsall, E. et al. Ready to Go Home? Patients’ Experiences of the Discharge Process in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program for Colorectal Surgery. J Gastrointest Surg 21, 1865–1878 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-017-3573-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-017-3573-0

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