How great a burden does early discharge to hospital-at-home impose on carers? A randomized controlled trial

D Gunnell; Joanna Coast; SH Richards; TJ Peters; J Pounsford; M-A Darlow

doi:10.1093/ageing/29.2.137

How great a burden does early discharge to hospital-at-home impose on carers? A randomized controlled trial

D Gunnell, Joanna Coast, SH Richards, TJ Peters, J Pounsford, M-A Darlow

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Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	137-142
Number of pages	6
Journal	Age and Ageing
Volume	29
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/29.2.137
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2000

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title = "How great a burden does early discharge to hospital-at-home impose on carers? A randomized controlled trial",

abstract = "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.",

author = "D Gunnell and Joanna Coast and SH Richards and TJ Peters and J Pounsford and M-A Darlow",

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doi = "10.1093/ageing/29.2.137",

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T1 - How great a burden does early discharge to hospital-at-home impose on carers? A randomized controlled trial

AU - Gunnell, D

AU - Coast, Joanna

AU - Richards, SH

AU - Peters, TJ

AU - Pounsford, J

AU - Darlow, M-A

PY - 2000/3/1

Y1 - 2000/3/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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DO - 10.1093/ageing/29.2.137

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C2 - 10791448

VL - 29

SP - 137

EP - 142

JO - Age and Ageing

JF - Age and Ageing

IS - 2

ER -

How great a burden does early discharge to hospital-at-home impose on carers? A randomized controlled trial

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