Discharge Planning for Patients Requiring Respiratory Assistive Devices

This study evaluates whether adding an easy-to-read, illustrated education booklet to routine discharge planning helps patients and their family caregivers safely use home respiratory equipment. Patients who need breathing devices after leaving the hospital often face challenges managing equipment and recognizing warning symptoms, which can lead to complications or hospital readmissions. Participants in this study are randomly assigned (by chance) to one of two groups: one group receives standard hospital discharge instructions, while the other group receives the standard instructions along with a specialized, step-by-step respiratory care booklet. Researchers will assess how prepared patients feel to return home the day before discharge, and will follow up by phone one week later to check on device use, daily care confidence, and any unexpected doctor or emergency room visits.