Postcraniotomy Patients' Readiness for Discharge and Predictors of Their Readiness for Discharge

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Postcraniotomy individuals should be monitored because of the direct influence on brain function as well as constraints caused by underlying illness. The relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics of postcraniotomy individuals and their readiness for discharge was examined. METHODS: A descriptive correlational study included 150 individuals. The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale and demographic variables were examined using descriptive statistics, correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The mean postcraniotomy score for the subdimension of knowledge related to readiness for discharge was 5.13 ± 3.04, and mean score for the whole scale was 7.76 ± 1.48. The individuals' age, employment status, presence of a person to provide care at home, poor financial status, and first hospitalization during the lifetime of the patient were statistically significant predictors of their readiness for discharge. This model was statistically significant ( F = 25.572, P < .001) and accounted for 57% of the variance in discharge readiness. CONCLUSION: Patients had moderate levels of readiness for discharge and low levels of discharge-related knowledge. The findings point to the importance of individual approach to the discharge planning.