OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hospital discharge among patients and their caregivers. METHODS: A integrative literature review was performed in the database of Pubmed, CINAHL and Lilacs from 2000 and 2005, focusing on the adult patient discharge and elderly with clinical-surgical problems, published in the English or Portuguese language. RESULTS: The population was made up of 54 publications and the sample was made up of 23 papers, which were sorted into two theme categories: 13 focused on the effectiveness and 10 on the process inefficiency. CONCLUDING REMARKS: In the subjects standpoints, the effectiveness of the discharge planning stems to the provision of information related to the disease and its treatment, contents suitable to their socioeducational characteristics and needs, through individual educational strategies, visual and written, and suitable communication among professionals, patients, caregivers and services.
Patient discharge; Caregivers; Patient satisfaction