Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42354644›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Discharge Practices After Hospitalization for COPD Exacerbations: A Physician Survey and SWOT Analysis.

Sanja Dimic-Janjic, Mihailo Stjepanovic, Ivan Cekerevac, Sanja Hromis, Ivana Buha, Vojislav Cupurdija, Ivan Kopitovic, Rade Milic, Biljana Zvezdin, Ivana Stankovic and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

17 authors.

Sanja Dimic-JanjicFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-9989-3862
Mihailo StjepanovicFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0003-1787-1438
Ivan CekerevacFaculty of Medicine, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-8407-1521
Sanja HromisFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-6132-1551
Ivana BuhaFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Vojislav CupurdijaFaculty of Medicine, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-9231-0177
Ivan KopitovicFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0003-4733-0093
Rade MilicMedical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense in Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Biljana ZvezdinFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-8440-6080
Ivana StankovicFaculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia.
Jelena JankovicFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-8529-8624
Nikola TrboljevacClinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0009-0006-7319-1081
Maja OmcikusFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-6489-5187
Lidija IsovicClinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Nikola KostadinovicClinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Nikola SuboticClinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Marija VukojaFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-9560-3653

Funding

Respiratory Society of Serbia no
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesDischarging patients after hospitalization for an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a critical transition in care associated with a high risk of early readmission. This survey aimed to describe physician-reported discharge practices following COPD exacerbations, identify perceived gaps and organizational barriers, explore attitudes toward structured COPD discharge summaries, and use a SWOT analysis as an interpretative framework.

methodsIn this cross-sectional observational survey, 100 physicians involved in COPD care were recruited from the official mailing list of the Respiratory Society of Serbia, which represents approximately 71% of the Society's members. The survey assessed discharge procedures, multidisciplinary practices, patient education, comorbidity management, perceived causes of readmission, and barriers to structured discharge summaries. Data were analyzed descriptively and complemented with a structured SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis.

resultsMost respondents worked in tertiary care settings and were involved in managing patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations. Although 24% of physicians routinely used structured discharge summaries, 45% reported never using them. The most frequently perceived contributors to 30-day readmissions were active smoking (90%), poor treatment adherence (81%), comorbidities (77%), and incorrect inhaler technique (72%). Major barriers to implementing structured discharge summaries included the lack of standardized templates, time constraints, poor coordination across healthcare levels, and technical limitations. Willingness to implement structured discharge tools was high (mean score 8.86/10). SWOT analysis identified strong professional support for discharge standardization alongside organizational and system-level barriers to implementation.

conclusionsThis exploratory survey identified important gaps between recommended and routine COPD discharge practices and highlighted organizational barriers to implementation. The findings may inform future evaluation and development of structured discharge tools in this healthcare setting.

Indexed as

chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCOPDdischarge planninghospital dischargeimplementation gaptransitional care

Identifiers

PMID42354644
PMCPMC13300697

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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.