ABSTRACT
For many years social workers have been concerned about the effects of reduced length of hospital stay on patients and families (Kayser et al., 1995; Keigher, 1993; Reamer, 1985). There has been concern that the time pressured atmosphere of treatment reduces the patient’s self determination in decision making about their treatment and plans for their future and contributes to problems experienced while in the hospital and after discharge. In association with this there has been previous research into the kinds of disagreements which occur between patients and hospital staff or family members about discharge planning (Abramson et al., 1993). There has also been study of decision making processes in relation to discharge planning (Coulton et al., 1988).
