Older Persons at Risk of Hospital Readmission: a mixed methods study

Hospital readmission is common and considered an adverse health outcome in older persons. Acute readmission of recently discharged patients puts additional pressure on clinical resources within health care services and support. Despite the frequency of readmissions, affecting health and wellbeing of older persons, there is still a relatively incomplete understanding of the broader array of factors pertaining to hospital readmission.
The current evidence on risk factors for hospital readmission is not adequate to identify person at risk of readmission in a heterogeneous population of older persons. Few studies have explored patients’ experiences of circumstances and incidents leading to readmission.
This thesis uses a mixed methods approach and combines quantitative as well as qualitative data to explore and identify risk factors and predictors of hospital readmission.
Use of health care services is the point where patients’ needs meet the professional system. There is a need to enhance our understanding of the complex pattern of risk factors associated with hospital readmission and to investigate the role of current practices and organisational determinants to improve the health outcomes in older persons.