Table 4 Descriptive statistics for inpatient discharge letters content coding (n = 375)
Content feature | Feature presence (yes) | Feature absence (no) |
|---|---|---|
1. Discharging physician (name and role) | 84.0% | 16.0% |
2. Reason for admission | 94.4% | 5.6% |
3. Diagnosis | 88.8% | 11.2% |
4. Tests/procedures performed | 88.5% | 11.5% |
5. Investigation results/examination findings | 89.1% | 10.9% |
6. Medication names | 82.4% | 17.6% |
7. Medication dose and frequency | 82.1% | 17.9% |
8. Medication changes | 56.8% | 43.2% |
9. Reasons for medication changes | 26.9% | 73.1% |
10. Hospital plan (pending actions e.g. outpatient appointment) | 62.9% | 37.1% |
11. Patient concerns/wishes | 8.3% | 91.7% |
12. Information to patient | 33.3% | 66.7% |
13. GP plan (actions/management) | 63.5% | 36.5% |
14. Acronyms (unexplained) | 81.3% | 18.7% |
15. Medical jargon (unexplained) | 76.5% | 23.5% |