Impact of Nurse-Led Patient Education on Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates in the Context of SDG 3

Abstract

Hospital readmissions remain a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide, contributing to increased costs, resource strain, and patient burden. Nurse-led patient education has emerged as a crucial intervention to address this issue by equipping patients with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective self-care. This study explores the impact of nurse-led education on hospital readmission rates through an extensive review of existing literature. Findings indicate that structured and personalized educational interventions—such as discharge planning, the teach-back method, and post-discharge follow-ups—can reduce readmissions by 15–36%, particularly in patients with chronic conditions like heart failure, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Beyond reducing readmissions, nurse-led education enhances patient health literacy, improves medication adherence, and fosters greater self-efficacy in disease management. However, challenges such as limited time, resource constraints, low patient literacy, and systemic barriers can limit effectiveness. The study concludes that nurse-led patient education should be integrated as a core component of discharge protocols and chronic disease management. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for stronger institutional support, adoption of digital health technologies, and policy frameworks that prioritize patient-centered education as a strategy to reduce readmissions and improve care outcomes.