Interventions to Reduce Hospital Readmissions: A Scoping Review

Context: In response to the growing strain on healthcare resources, urgent measures are needed to encourage early discharge and prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions. This review aimed to systematically assess studies of interventions designed to reduce readmissions. Methods: The search was conducted between February 20 and March 20, 2023. Original articles focusing on interventions to reduce hospital readmission rates were reviewed. Two researchers were separately responsible for selecting articles, extracting data, and conducting qualitative assessments using the STROBE and CONSORT guidelines. Results: The study included a total of seventy-two articles. The proposed interventions for minimizing readmission rates were classified into 14 distinct groups. Conclusions: Patient follow-up after discharge and education emerge as two effective approaches in this context. Moreover, robust evidence exists to support the efficacy of community-based interventions in decreasing hospital readmissions.