e, it was still necessary and desirable to conduct the study reported in this article.
In fact, the theoretical framework for the study reported in this article was based in part on one of the reviewed studies. The theoretical framework for the study reported in this article "was built on the discharge planning protocol for the elderly developed by" L. Kennedy, S. Neidlinger, and K. Scroggins, and on a refinement of "the discharge planning portion of the Quality Cost Model of Early Hospital Discharge and Nurse Specialist Transition Care developed by" D. Brooten, L. Brown, B. Monro Hazard, R. York, S. Cohen, M. Roncoli, and A. Hollingsworth (Naylor, 1990, p. 157). This theoretical framework was operationally defined in the context of a comparison of postdischarge outcomes in terms of the length of hospital stay, postdischarge morbidity, and cost of care (Naylor, 1990, p. 156).
Neither research questions nor hypotheses were explicitly stated in the article. The purpose of the study reported in the article was explicitly stated. The purpose was to "examine the effects of a comprehensive discharge planning protocol implemented by a gerontological nurse specialist as compared to the hospital's general discharge planning procedure on the following outcomes: length of initial hospital stay; postdischarge morbidity; and cost of care" (Naylor, 1990, p. 156). Thus, the reader may infer the following research questions:
1. Is there a difference in the length of initial hospital stay associated with discharge planning implemented by a gerontological nurse specialist as compared to the hospital's general discharge planning procedure?
2. Is there a difference in postdischarge morbidity associated with discharge planning implemented by a gerontological nurse specialist as compared to the hospital's general discharge planning procedure?
3. Is there a difference in cost of care associated with discharge planning implemented by a g...