Prediction of readmission based on LACE index in medical ward of Hajar hospital of Shahrekord

Hospital readmission is considered as one of worrying issues for patients, healthcare providers, and hospitals due to influencing costs and quality of hospital cares as well as imposing extra burden on patients and their families. This study was conducted to predict patient readmission based on LACE index in internal ward of Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord. In this descriptive, analytical study which was conducted cross-sectionally from January, 2013 to June, 2013, the probability of readmission of patients hospitalized in internal ward of Hajar Hospital was estimated within one month after discharge, based on the data extracted from the medical file of each patient and asking patients to answer questions about each one of the components existing in LACE index checklist at discharge. Of 120 individuals participating in the research, 67 patients were female. The mean hospitalization duration of patients was three days. 62.4% of the patients had a history of cardiovascular, diabetes, and renal diseases of moderate level. Based on statistical results of chi-square, readmission of the patients was significant only for different age groups and with different education (P<0.01), but exhibited no significant difference for gender, marital status, occupation, and insurance (P>0.05). In regression analysis, the difference in LACE index score had a confidence interval of 0.611, standard deviation of 0.053, and significance of 0.040 in the individuals with and without history of readmission for readmission diagnosis. The groups at high risk need more healthcare training in view of lower education; therefore, it is recommended that the patients who obtain the score of higher than eight based on LACE index be particularly included in training programs.