Abstract / Summary
Aims: To examine the level and associated factors of readiness for hospital discharge among patients undergoing surgery for type A aortic dissection, and its correlations with quality of life at 30 and 90 days post-discharge.
Design: A prospective observational cohort study with a cross-sectional baseline assessment and longitudinal follow-up at 30 and 90 days post-discharge.
Methods: This study employed a convenience sampling method to recruit 186 patients who underwent surgery for type A aortic dissection at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of a tertiary hospital in northern China between January 2024 and June 2025. Baseline data were collected within 24 h before discharge using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale, the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale. Quality of life was assessed 30 and 90 days after discharge using the 8-item Short Form Health Survey. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis (enter method) were used to analyse the data.
Results: A total of 186 patients completed baseline assessment (184 at 30 days; 180 at 90 days). The mean readiness for hospital discharge score was 153.74 ± 31.85, with a mean item score of 6.99 ± 1.45, indicating low readiness. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that quality of discharge teaching, social support, health literacy, and having a college degree or above were the main associated factors of readiness for hospital discharge. Together, these associated factors accounted for 30.0% of the total variance. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between readiness for hospital discharge and quality of life at 30 and 90 days.
Conclusion: Patients undergoing surgery for type A aortic dissection have low readiness for hospital discharge, which is associated with quality of discharge teaching, social support, health literacy, and educational level. Greater readiness was associated with better quality of life at 30 and 90 days post-discharge.
Implication for practice: Nurses should assess discharge readiness and provide targeted transitional care, particularly for patients with lower education, limited health literacy, or insufficient social support. Future intervention studies are needed to test whether enhancing readiness improves outcomes.
Reporting method: This study adhered to the STROBE reporting guidelines.