Do marked discharge summaries with recommendation text boxes enhance patient safety? A nationwide survey.

Abstract

Background: Danish hospital physicians are required to mark their discharge summaries addressing whether the patient's general practitioner (GP) is recommended to follow up as well as suggest follow-up actions.

Aim: To investigate whether a new form of discharge summaries may contribute to improve the perceived patient safety following transition from hospitals to general practice.

Design & setting: This paper reports data from a questionnaire sent to a representative sample of GPs in Denmark.

Method: A questionnaire was prepared for GPs based on background material, focus group interviews and discussions with relevant professionals. It was subsequently pilot tested by fellow researchers and GPs and revised prior to the presently reported survey.

Results: Of 310 participating GPs, 197 (63%) 'totally agree' or 'partly agree' that the marked discharge summaries with a recommendation text box contribute to a better handover to general practice, and 223 (72%) 'totally agree' or 'partly agree' that they improve patient safety.

Conclusion: The majority of responding GPs believe that the marked discharge summaries with a recommendation text box enhance patient safety and facilitate the transition of care to general practice following hospital discharge.