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Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the attitudes and beliefs held by referrers and service providers of an Australian Early Supported Discharge (ESD) service called “Rehabilitation in the Home” (RITH); with particular consideration of factors that may influence referral to RITH. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour was undertaken. Results: There were 113 respondents; 90 referrers and 23 service providers. Referrers and RITH staff had a moderately favourable attitude towards RITH. The majority of referrers, and, to a greater degree, RITH staff members, understood and appreciated the advantages ascribed to ESD. However, views varied with regard to some of the factors upon which the decision to refer to RITH rests. Two-fifths of referrers did not think that RITH provided hospital equivalent therapy intensity and over one-fifth of referrers had concerns about the capability of the RITH service to provide specialist stroke rehabilitation. Opinion of RITH staff was also varied on these topics. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that there was a level of uncertainty amongst referrers and RITH service providers regarding issues directly and indirectly related to patient eligibility and RITH service capability. This uncertainty needs to be explored in future research.
Differences in views held by referrers and ESD service providers were identified in this study that could lead to inconsistencies in patient selection for, and under-utilization of, ESD services.
Improved communication between referrers and ESD service providers, for instance attendance of RITH staff at inpatient team meetings, could ameliorate some of these misconceptions.
On-going education of referrers about service capability is essential to ensure timely transfer of appropriate clients to ESD services.
Implications for Rehabilitation
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the managers responsible for survey distribution and all respondents for their participation.