ROLE OF DEMOGRAPHICS IN DELAYED DISCHARGE OF DAY CARE SURGERIES: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: Modern era of surgery is gradually evolving from traditional extended in-hospital care to early mobilization and discharge of patients from health care facility. Delayed discharge of patient from healthcare facility is much bigger issue than its presumed. Delayed discharge can be thought when patient stays in healthcare facility beyond the appropriate time due to any reason. So, this study investigated various reasons of delayed discharge prevalent in our geographical area. Material and Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted among patients undergoing for elective day care surgery. All IPD patients undergoing day care surgeries, who resides in healthcare facility beyond 23 hours 59 minutes with having Modified Aldrete score of 9 or above were included. A total of 221 patients undergoing day care surgeries in our institute were selected. Patients posted for day care surgeries were identified by using random sampling method, afterwards post 24 hours of their duly posted surgeries. A pre-defined structured questionnaire was filled by trained staff members or duty doctor. Results: During the study period, total 337-day care surgeries were performed in the department and the number of patients identified with delayed discharges were 221. Conclusion: our work shows that demographic and social factors play a very important role in deciding optimum timing of discharging of patients following day care surgeries.so before framing discharge policies socio-demographic factors needs to meticulously assessed. Our findings should be confirmed in future by large population based prospective studies and more research trials are needed to form standard operating protocols for operation theatres taking due consideration of socio-demographic factors.