Perceived readiness for hospital discharge: Patients with spinal cord injury versus physiotherapists.

The study used a convenience sample of 50 patients, so the perceptions may not represent all patients with spinal cord injury. It was limited to hospitals in the Tshwane Metropolitan area, so findings may not apply elsewhere. Physiotherapist demographics and work experience were not collected, so differences cannot be linked to experience or expertise. The study did not follow patients after discharge, so it cannot show whether these perception differences predicted readmission, coping or secondary health conditions. The study compared perceptions only, and it did not measure actual post-discharge function or support. Patients were assessed within seven days of discharge, so readiness was captured at a single late time point.

Do not read the similar overall scores as agreement about discharge readiness. Patients and physiotherapists differed on coping, expected support, stress and knowledge, and the study did not follow patients after discharge, so it cannot show which perception was more accurate.