What are the experiences and perceptions of unplanned readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge from the perspective of older people and their families within an English NHS context?
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Older people continue to have a higher risk of unplanned readmission. The current landscape on unplanned readmissions is dominated by quantitative research exploring associations, patient characteristics and unplanned readmissions and little attention has been given to the experiences of older people and their families. There is a gap in understanding the patient perspective and viewing unplanned readmissions in a more holistic manner and a clinical need to further understand the patient and family experience of unplanned readmissions. Methodology and method: An interpretivist paradigm and constructivist approach were adopted. A collective case study informed by Stake (1995, 2006) was conducted. A case was defined as an adult aged 65 years or over and who has had an unplanned readmission to the study site hospital Trust within 30 days of discharge. Each case was viewed from the perspective of the patient, in addition to that of a family member if available, alongside documents, observations, and reflections. This is a case of experiences and perceptions of unplanned readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge situated within this context. 14 cases were included in this study. Data were collected via interviews; observations and a reflective diary was used. Case descriptions were written, and multiple case study analysis was conducted following the ethos of Stake (2006) combined with the tools of framework analysis as described by Ritchie and Spence (1994). Findings: Unplanned readmissions were experienced as a disrupter by patients and families, with disruptions to their existential condition, with emotional and practical impacts. Within this case study unplanned readmissions were a phenomenon characterised by misaligned expectation and need in both communication and expectations. Unplanned readmissions were also a catalyst for change and viewed as lifesaving and key to unlocking care and/or support. Finally, they were perceived as symptoms of p…
abstract: Background: Older people continue to have a higher risk of unplanned readmission. The current landscape on unplanned readmissions is dominated by quantitative research exploring associations, patient characteristics and unplanned readmissions and little attention has been given to the experiences of older people and their families. There is a gap in understanding the patient perspective and viewing unplanned readmissions in a more holistic manner and a clinical need to further understand the patient and family experience of unplanned readmissions. Methodology and method: An interpretivist paradigm and constructivist approach were adopted. A collective case study informed by Stake (1995, 2006) was conducted. A case was defined as an adult aged 65 years or over and who has had an unplanned readmission to the study site hospital Trust within 30 days of discharge. Each case was viewed from the perspective of the patient, in addition to that of a family member if available, alongside documents, observations, and reflections. This is a case of experiences and perceptions of unplanned readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge situated within this context. 14 cases were included in this study. Data were collected via interviews; observations and a reflective diary was used. Case descriptions were written, and multiple case study analysis was conducted following the ethos of Stake (2006) combined with the tools of framework analysis as described by Ritchie and Spence (1994). Findings: Unplanned readmissions were experienced as a disrupter by patients and families, with disruptions to their existential condition, with emotional and practical impacts. Within this case study unplanned readmissions were a phenomenon characterised by misaligned expectation and need in both communication and expectations. Unplanned readmissions were also a catalyst for change and viewed as lifesaving and key to unlocking care and/or support. Finally, they were perceived as symptoms of p…
author: Blakey, Emma Louise Pascale
language: en
date published: 2022
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:42:50Z
provider: Oxford Brookes University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Oxford Brookes University

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.24384/6vdy-kn05