[Change in unit nurses' knowledge and practice before or after the intervention by using a discharge support planning tool at highly advanced medical center].

A survey was conducted to 75 unit-nurses to verify the change in nurses' knowledge and practice before or after the intervention by using a discharge support planning tool at highly advanced medical center. The discharge support planning tool was made from four sheets: Screening Sheet I - an identification sheet for patient who needs a discharge plan at an early stage, Screening Sheet II - an activity evaluation sheet to check the patient's daily activities, Screening Sheet III - a direction confirmation sheet for the family and medical practitioners, and Screening Sheet IV - a discharge flow chart to show overall discharge arrangements. In the survey results, the unit nurses' knowledge and practice was significantly increased after the use of the discharge support planning tool(p<0.05)in the following areas: (1) collection of information regarding the economic situation and social environment, (2) preparedness of medical services, and (3) a team work between nurses and dieticians for discharge support planning. A satisfaction to the discharge support planning tool was also increased(p<0.01). Utilizing the discharge planning tool is a useful manual to determine the contents of the discharge planning. It also gives an idea for inexperienced nurses what the discharge planning tool is all about.