Development of a phased discharge planning for patients undergoing airway stenting: a Delphi study informed by the timing it right framework

The study aimed to develop a dynamic, phased discharge planning intervention and optimize nursing care for patients with airway stenosis undergoing stenting. The research was based on the Timing It Right framework and included a literature review, semi-structured interviews with 7 physicians, 9 nurses, and 8 patients. The final discharge plan comprises 5 primary domains: diagnosis phase, stabilization phase, preparation phase, implementation phase, and adaptation phase, further divided into 15 secondary categories and 57 tertiary items. Three iterative rounds of Delphi consultation with experts achieved high response rates (95.24%, 100%, and 100%), and all 57 tertiary indicators met retention criteria with mean importance scores exceeding 4.00. The researchers concluded that the proposed discharge plan is scientifically rigorous and operationally feasible, with future clinical trials needed to quantify its impact on complication rates and unplanned readmissions.