Abstract:
Background: Discharge planning is an important component of nursing care. Poor discharge
planning is a serious problem that can negatively affect patients, hospitals, and the healthcare
system. However, there is no information on discharge planning practices and associated factors
in the study setting.
Objectives: The study aimed to assess discharge planning practice and associated factors, among
nurses working in Jimma City public hospitals, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia, 2023.
Methods: The hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 20-30 May among nurses
working in two public hospitals in Jimma City. A simple random sampling method was used to
select 422 study participants. Data were collected using a structured self-administered
questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and analyzed with the Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Descriptive statistics were done to summarize data.
Variables with a p-value <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariate logistic
regression to identify factors associated with discharge planning practice, and a p-value < 0.05,
was considered statistically significant. Data are presented as text, tables, and figures.
Results: out of 422 recruited, 404 nurses participated in the study results 95,7response rate. The
study found that 170 participants (42.1%) had good discharge-planning practices. Diploma
holders [AOR = 0.22; 95% CI (0.07- 0.7) ]and bachelor degree holders AOR = 0.37[0.09-0.89]
were negatively associated with discharge planning practice, while satisfactory knowledge [AOR
= 1.83; 95% CI (1.08- 3.11)], favorable attitude [AOR = 1.77; 95% CI (1.06-2.94)], good nursepatient communication [AOR = 2.89; 95% CI (1.748, 4.78)], and effective supervision [AOR =
2.09; 95% CI (1.27-3.44)] were positively associated with nursing discharge planning practice.
Conclusion &recommendation: This study demonstrated that the good practice of discharge
planning among nurses was found to be low. The lower educational level of nurses, knowledge,
attitude, nurse-patient communication, and supervision were significantly associated with
discharge planning practice. It is very important to plan and intervene with different strategies,
such as providing training for nurses with low educational status, create positive attitudes and
enhance their knowledge encourage effective supervision..
