A study on redundant days of hospitalization based on the concept of nursing care dependence showed that among the 99 patients studied 68 demonstrated redundant days during their hospitalization of 25 or more days. This implies a wastage of 1094 bed-days. In another study a group of 102 patients and redundancy was identified in 60 patients. There was no significant statistical difference between the redundant and non-redundant patients according to the social and demographic variables studies. Five diseases were found to be more frequent among the redundant patients: respiratory diseases, fractures, arterial hypertension with or without cardiac failure, cerebral strokes and hepatic cirrhosis. Considering the grea wastage of material and financial resources and the risks of a long-term hospitalization for patients, it is recommended that experimental home care programmes for a more reasonable treatment of chronic patients should be tested.
Hospitalization; Chronic diseases; Hospitals, Teaching
