Continuity of care for children with chronic conditions: mixed methods research.

The quantitative result was guardians' reported perception of transition quality, not an objective measure of whether the child received follow-up, medication, equipment or rehabilitation after discharge. The authors noted possible gratitude bias, because guardians may have rated care more positively while feeling cared for after a hospital stay. 51 guardians did not answer the telephone call, so the quantitative sample may not represent all discharged families. The study included only two reference hospitals in Southern Brazil, so the findings may not transfer to other health systems, regions or community services. The study did not test a discharge intervention, so it cannot show that any strategy improved continuity or reduced readmissions. The CTM-15 had not previously been used to evaluate transition of care for children in Brazil, so the score's meaning for this population is not established. The qualitative sample was 35 participants, and the quantitative sample was cross-sectional, so the findings describe experiences and perceived barriers rather than causal effects.

The supplied text does not report funding or conflicts of interest.

Do not read the mean CTM-15 score as evidence that continuity of care was achieved after discharge. The score measured guardians' perceived transition quality, and the interviews found no formal hospital follow-up to confirm what happened to the child in the health network.