Exploring perceived control and self-rated health in re-admissions among younger adults: A retrospective study. Issue 5 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gabay, Gillie
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 99:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 800
• Page End: 806
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Locus of control -- Self-rated health -- Empowerment -- Hospitalizations -- Re-admissions; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.11.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: Self-rated health and internal locus of control explained 5.2% of the variance in re-admissions among younger adults. Internal locus of control moderated the relationship between Self-rated health and re-admissions. Moderation effect reduced re-admissions by .40 Abstract: Objective: Although health promotion calls for patient empowerment, it is not integrated in reducing re-admissions. This study examines the link among patient perceived control, self-rated health and fewer hospital re-admissions. Methods: An empirical explorative retrospective cross-sectional study with 208 respondents aged 40–65 with poor health and identical health plans. All measures hold good psychometric properties. Results: Self-rated health was strongly related to fewer re-admissions. Perceived control moderated the relationship between self-rated health and fewer re-admissions. Perceived control and self-rated health, together, contributed 5.2% to the variance in re-admissions. Conclusion: Perceived control and perceived health status each explained a different share of the variance of re-admissions. Together, these perceptions reduced re-admissions by .40. Patient-clinician communication upon discharge may be a new direction to reduce re-admissions, improve delivery of care and promote health. Practice implications: To reduce re-admissions, managements need to invest in restructuring the patient discharge process. A physician-patient dialogue shaping patient perceptions about their health status, perceived room for health improvement, and available internal and external resources may make a difference. Findings stress the need to allocate more time and resources for discharge communication processes and for physician training on psycho-social skills that may empower patients upon discharge.