Abstract
IntroductionSupport of neurosurgery patients following discharge from hospital is important. Currently, little is known about patients' in low- and middle-income countries before and after their hospital treatment. This companion paper reports patients' pathways before and after hospital admission and the feasibility of following up this ill-patient population by telephone.
MethodsEligible patients were aged 18years admitted to the Neurosurgery Department in Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospitala regional referral hospital in Bandung City, Indonesia. Clinical data were collected on admission by clinicians. In-person interviews were undertaken with a clinical research nurse 1 to 2days pre-discharge, and telephone follow-up interviews at 1, 2, and 3months post-discharge. Information was also collected on pathways prior to admission and following discharge. The number of contact attempts for each patient interview was documented, as was the overall acceptability of undertaking a telephone interview.
ResultsOf 178 patients discharged from hospital, 12 later died. Of the remaining 166 patients, 95% were able to be followed up to 3months. Two-thirds of patients had been referred from another hospital. Patients came from, and were discharged to, locations throughout the West Java region. At the 1-month interview, 84% participants reported that they had had a follow-up consultation with a health professionalmostly with a neurosurgeon.
ConclusionThis study has shown that, with a neurosurgery nurse delegated to the role, it is feasible to conduct follow-up telephone interviews with patients after discharge from a neurosurgery ward and that in fact such follow-up was appreciated by patients.