OBJECTIVE: to assess the effects of an early discharge hospital-at-home scheme on self-reported carer strain and quality of life. DESIGN: a randomized controlled trial SETTING: Bristol, UK. SUBJECTS:133 carers of patients receiving either early discharge from hospital to hospital-at-home (n = 93) care or usual hospital care and discharge (n = 40). OUTCOME MEASURES: modified 12-item Carer Strain Index, COOP-WONCA charts and EuroQol EQ-5D at 4 weeks and 3 months post-randomization. RESULTS:the mean age of carers was 65 years; 56% were women. There were no marked differences between the groups in any of the outcomes used at either 4-week or 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: there was no evidence of increased self-reported burden imposed on carers of patients discharged early from hospital. Decisions on the implementation of hospital-at-home schemes should be influenced by considerations of cost and effectiveness rather than effects on carers. The effects on carers may, however, differ for other forms of home-based care.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: to assess the effects of an early discharge hospital-at-home scheme on self-reported carer strain and quality of life. DESIGN: a randomized controlled trial SETTING: Bristol, UK. SUBJECTS: 133 carers of patients receiving either early discharge from hospital to hospital-at-home (n = 93) care or usual hospital care and discharge (n = 40). OUTCOME MEASURES: modified 12-item Carer Strain Index, COOP-WONCA charts and EuroQol EQ-5D at 4 weeks and 3 months post-randomization. RESULTS: the mean age of carers was 65 years; 56% were women. There were no marked differences between the groups in any of the outcomes used at either 4-week or 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: there was no evidence of increased self-reported burden imposed on carers of patients discharged early from hospital. Decisions on the implementation of hospital-at-home schemes should be influenced by considerations of cost and effectiveness rather than effects on carers. The effects on carers may, however, differ for other forms of home-based care.
Authors: Kushal T Kadakia; Celynne A Balatbat; Albert L Siu; I Glenn Cohen; Consuelo H Wilkins; Victor J Dzau; Anaeze C Offodile 2nd Journal: Milbank Q Date: 2022-09-23 Impact factor: 6.237
Authors: Daniela C Gonçalves-Bradley; Steve Iliffe; Helen A Doll; Joanna Broad; John Gladman; Peter Langhorne; Suzanne H Richards; Sasha Shepperd Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-06-26
Authors: Jacques Lemelin; William E Hogg; Simone Dahrouge; Catherine Deri Armstrong; Carmel M Martin; Wei Zhang; Jo-Anne Dusseault; Joy Parsons-Nicota; Raphael Saginur; Gary Viner Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2007-08-17 Impact factor: 2.655