Older patient participation in multi-disciplinary decision-making: planning in Scotland and British Columbia

This study describes the team discharge decision-making process within two geriatric assessment and rehabilitation units -<p><p>one located in Scotland, the other in British Columbia, Canada. Study subjects were health and social care professionals who made up the multi-disciplinary team, and two groups of older patients discharged from each team's care back to their own homes. The focus of the research was the elderly patient's involvement in the decision-making process. The aim of this comparative study was to determine what role older patients play in discharge planning - to what extent they are permitted to be involved and to what extent they wish to be involved. Findings discuss how each ward team facilitated patient input in planning and what patients' and professionals' views of participation were. Results from interviews with patients in their own homes post discharge reveal a relationship between patient participation and discharge outcomes in each country, and emphasize the importance of patient involvement in attaining continuity of care between the hospital and the community.