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QUESTION: Does discharge planning from hospital to home improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching Medline (1966–96), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1980–96), Sigle (1980–96), Bioethics (1985–96), Health Plan (all years), Assia (all years), PsycLIT (1974–96), CINAHL (1982–96), the Cochrane Library (all years), EconLit (1969–96), Social Science Citation Index (1992–6), and the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) specialised register; reviewing reference lists of relevant articles; and contacting experts.
Study selection
Randomised controlled trials and other controlled trials were selected if they included patients in acute, rehabilitation, or community hospitals and assessed a discharge planning intervention (development of an individualised discharge …