Prevalence of Factors Contributing to Unplanned Hospital Readmission of Older Medical Patients

We need to identify the essential factors that are linked to readmission among older medical patients as approximately 20% of all medical patients above the age of 65 are readmitted within 30 days after discharge. The objective of this cross-sectional survey study is to to identify factors and aspects that contribute to unplanned hospital readmissions of older medical patients. This will be done through a survey where readmitted patients and their relatives and healthcare professionals answer questions about the patients readmission. The survey questions cover following themes: 1) disease, 2) diagnostics, treatment and care, 3) social network, 4) organisation, 5) communication, 6) competences and knowledge, 7) resources and 8) practical aspects. The hypothesis is that the more knowledge we gain on factors that contribute to readmission, the more targeted actions and interventions and thus preventing readmissions.