HEARt Sounds: A Pilot Randomized Trial to Determine the Feasibility and Acceptability of Audio Recordings to Improve Discharge Communication for Cardiology Inpatients

The study objective is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of providing audio recorded discharge instructions to patients discharged from an inpatient cardiology service using a two-arm randomized controlled design. Specifically, this pilot study aims to: 1) Determine whether providing audio recorded discharge instructions as a supplemental discharge communication tool is feasible for cardiology providers and patients to use during the inpatient discharge discussion, 2) Determine whether it is acceptable for patients and families to use audio recorded discharge instructions after hospital discharge to self-manage care, and 3) Explore the impact of audio recording on patients' understanding of discharge instructions, ability to self-manage care and ability to adhere to prescribed medications.

On the day of discharge, enrolled patients will be randomized to a usual care arm, which includes bedside discussion and review of written discharge instructions with the discharging provider, or to an intervention arm, which includes bedside discussion and review of written discharge instructions with the discharging provider and an audio recording of that bedside discharge discussion using block randomization at the provider level. All participants randomized to the intervention arm will receive a portable, electronic recording device with audio playback that contains a recording of the bedside discharge discussion, and will also have the option to record the discharge discussion on a smartphone or receive access to the recording online, via the Open Recording Automated Logging System (ORALS). The hypothesis is providing audio recordings of discharge instructions will be feasible and acceptable to cardiology patients and providers.

One week after discharge, all enrolled patients (both arms) will be contacted via telephone to complete an interview about the use of written discharge instructions and a survey about understanding of discharge instructions, confidence and ability to self-manage care, and medication adherence. In addition, patients in the intervention arm will be interviewed about how the audio recording of the discharge discussion was used.