A cross-sectional study of readiness for discharge, chronic illness resources and postdischarge outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcer.

AIM

To investigate the correlation of readiness for hospital discharge, the chronic illness resources, and postdischarge outcomes of diabetic foot ulcer patients, which can be help for discharged patient rehabilitation.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-nine patients were recruited from the Endocrinology units of two tertiary hospitals between November 2018-September 2019, in Guangdong, China. The methods used were Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale, The Chronic Illness Resources Survey and one-on-one telephone interviews.

RESULTS

Pearson correlation coefficients indicated moderate correlation between the readiness for discharge and resource availability for chronic illnesses (r = .446, p < .001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Chronic Illness Resources Survey, self-care ability, methods of wound treatments after discharge, and living alone were the main predictors of readiness for hospital discharge among diabetic foot ulcer patients (F = 12.272, p < .001, R  = .621,  = .571). The study was limited by location, patient's recall bias and lack of BADL scale, which can be further improved in subsequent studies by developing multi-centre clinical study and adopting more objective assessment tools.