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. 2024 Oct 22;16(10):e72111.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.72111. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Integrating Quantitative Data and Qualitative Insights to Understand 30-Day Readmission Rates: A Mixed-Methods Study

Samy Allam  1
Affiliations

Integrating Quantitative Data and Qualitative Insights to Understand 30-Day Readmission Rates: A Mixed-Methods Study

Samy Allam. Cureus. .

Abstract

The rate of patients readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of discharge is a critical indicator of healthcare quality. This study explored the factors contributing to 30-day hospital readmission rates nationally and at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) through a mixed-methods research design. Quantitative analysis utilized data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) database, focusing on patient demographics, principal diagnoses, length of stay, and hospital characteristics. Multivariate regression and descriptive statistics were employed to identify predictors of 30-day readmission. The qualitative analysis sought to understand the specific medical conditions and patient profiles linked to higher readmission rates. The findings revealed that older age, specific principal diagnoses (e.g., heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), and longer initial hospital stays were associated with an increased likelihood of 30-day readmission. Gender disparities and hospital size/type also influenced readmission rates. These results provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of individual patient characteristics and hospital attributes in driving readmissions. The study's mixed-methods approach yielded a comprehensive understanding of the quantitative patterns and qualitative factors contributing to 30-day hospital readmission rates, offering important implications for healthcare quality improvement initiatives.

Keywords: comorbid disease; inpatient mental health readmission; leadership in healthcare management and assessment of quality indicators in healthcare; mortality and readmission rates; quality of health information; rate of readmission; readmission rate 30 days; readmission risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Institutional Review Board (IRB) issued approval 22-40. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Forest plot of regression coefficients
Figure 2
Figure 2. Heatmap of readmission rate differences (ARMC vs. National) for 2012-2022
Red shades: Indicate that ARMC’s readmission rates were higher than the national average. Yellow shades: Show where the rates were roughly equal.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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