The POST-DISCHARGE COPING DIFFICULTY SCALE (PDCDS) is a patient self-report tool measuring difficulty with coping at home following discharge from the hospital. This is a unidimensional scale that is administered by phone typically between two and three weeks post-discharge.

There are three forms of the PDCDS for adult medical-surgical patients, parents of hospitalized children, and postpartum mothers.

• PDCDS- Adult form: 10 items (item 6b is not included in the scoring)
• Ped-PDCDS for parents of hospitalized children (including NICU): 11 items (includes items 10 a and 10 b; item 6b is not included in the scoring)
• OB-PDCDS for postpartum mothers: 10 items

Scoring

Items are scored on a 0 to 10 scaling format. Items 8-10 (10a and 10b in pediatric version) should be reverse scored. To obtain a total score, sum the items and divide by the number of items in the scale; the score is the mean of items and ranges from 0 to 10. We use mean of items to increase interpretability of findings when used with our other scales.

 

Links to English Language forms are directly below.

• PDCDS for adult medical surgical patients
• Ped-PDCDS for parents of hospitalized children (including NICU)
• OB-PDCDS for postpartum mothers

 

Links to approved translations are also listed below.  

Permission is granted to use the scales. No modifications are permitted. Please contact the translator to inform him/her that you plan to use. Cite Dr. Marianne Weiss as author of the scale and also cite the translator in any publications. 

 

**Awaiting Permission               ##Translation/Study in Progress

 

 

               

References to use of the PDCDS – includes psychometrics

Opper, K., Beiler, J. & Weiss, M.E. (2019). Effects of implementing a health team communication redesign on hospital readmissions within 30 days.  Worldviews on Evidence Based Nursing, 16(2), 121-130.

Weiss, M.E., Sawin, K., Gralton, K., Johnson, N., Klingbeil, C., Lerret, S.M., Malin, M., Yakusheva, O., & Schiffman, R. (2017).  Discharge teaching, readiness for discharge, and post-discharge outcomes in parents of hospitalized children. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 34, 58-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2016.12.019.

Lerret, S. M., Weiss, M. E., Stendahl, G., Chapman, S., Menendez, J., Williams, L., Nadler, M., Neighbors, K., Amsden, K., Cao, Y., Nugent, M., Alonso, E., & Simpson, P. (2015). Pediatric solid organ transplant recipients: Transition to home and chronic illness care.  Pediatric Transplantation, 19 (1), 118-129.  

Lerret, S. & Weiss, M.E. (2011). How ready are they? Parents of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients and the transition from hospital to home following transplant. Pediatric Transplantation,15,606–616 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2011.01536.x.

Weiss, M.E. & Lokken, L. (2009). Predictors and outcomes of postpartum mothers’ perceptions of readiness for discharge after birth.  JOGNN, 38, 406-417.

Weiss, M., Johnson, N., Malin, S., Jerofke, T., Lang, C., & Sherburne, E. (2008). Readiness for discharge in parents of hospitalized children.  Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 23(4), 282-295.

Weiss, M.E., Piacentine, L.B., Lokken, L., Ancona, J., Archer, J., Gresser, S., Holmes, S.B., Toman, S., Toy, A., & Vega-Stromberg, T. (2007). Perceived readiness for hospital discharge in adult medical-surgical patients. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 21, 31-42.

Weiss, M.E. & Piacentine, L.B.  (2006). Psychometric properties of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale.  Journal of Nursing Measurement, 14(3), 163-180.

Malagon-Maldonado, G., Hiner, J.B., & Lanciers, M. (2015). Broadening the horizons on predictors of discharge teaching, discharge readiness, and postdischarge outcomes. JOGNN, 44 (Supplement 1), S58. https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12628