Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30866908›Full record

SynthesisBMC health services research2019

A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis on the risks of medical discharge letters for patients' safety.

Christine Maria Schwarz, Magdalena Hoffmann, Petra Schwarz, Lars-Peter Kamolz, Gernot Brunner, Gerald Sendlhofer

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC health services research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 59 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
59citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

59 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Trial
  5. Effect of integrated medicines management on quality of discharge medication information-a secondary endpoint in a randomized controlled trial.International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care · 2024
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  10. Comprehension of an artificial intelligence-generated discharge letter versus a traditional discharge letter: two controlled quasi-experimental parallel-group studies.International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care · 2026
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  14. Observational
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Christine Maria SchwarzResearch Unit for Safety in Health, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Magdalena HoffmannResearch Unit for Safety in Health, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Magdalena.hoffmann@klinikum-graz.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1668-4294
Petra SchwarzCarinthia University of Applied Science, Feldkirchen, Austria.
Lars-Peter KamolzResearch Unit for Safety in Health, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Gernot BrunnerResearch Unit for Safety in Health, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Gerald SendlhoferResearch Unit for Safety in Health, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Funding

Gesundheitsfonds Steiermark -
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe medical discharge letter is an important communication tool between hospitals and other healthcare providers. Despite its high status, it often does not meet the desired requirements in everyday clinical practice. Occurring risks create barriers for patients and doctors. This present review summarizes risks of the medical discharge letter.

methodsThe research question was answered with a systematic literature research and results were summarized narratively. A literature search in the databases PubMed and Cochrane Library for Studies between January 2008 and May 2018 was performed. Two authors reviewed the full texts of potentially relevant studies to determine eligibility for inclusion. Literature on possible risks associated with the medical discharge letter was discussed.

resultsIn total, 29 studies were included in this review. The major identified risk factors are the delayed sending of the discharge letter to doctors for further treatments, unintelligible (not patient-centered) medical discharge letters, low quality of the discharge letter, and lack of information as well as absence of training in writing medical discharge letters during medical education.

conclusionsMultiple risks factors are associated with the medical discharge letter. There is a need for further research to improve the quality of the medical discharge letter to minimize risks and increase patients' safety.

Indexed as

CommunicationHealth PersonnelHospitalsHumansMedical RecordsNarrationPatient DischargePatient SafetyProfessional PracticeDischarge letterDischarge summaryHospital dischargePatient safetyRiskSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID30866908
PMCPMC6417275

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.