Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28088166›Full record

SynthesisBMC geriatrics2017

Impact of home care versus alternative locations of care on elder health outcomes: an overview of systematic reviews.

Laura Boland, France Légaré, Maria Margarita Becerra Perez, Matthew Menear, Mirjam Marjolein Garvelink, Daniel I McIsaac, Geneviève Painchaud Guérard, Julie Emond, Nathalie Brière, Dawn Stacey

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. Patients' experiences of receiving hospital care from a mobile care unit - a qualitative interview study.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Laura BolandPopulation Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 25 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7 K4, Canada.
France LégaréCHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval site Hôpital St-Francois d'Assise, 10 Rue Espinay, Quebec, G1L 3 L5, Canada. France.Legare@mfa.ulaval.ca.
Maria Margarita Becerra PerezCHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval site Hôpital St-Francois d'Assise, 10 Rue Espinay, Quebec, G1L 3 L5, Canada.
Matthew MenearCHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval site Hôpital St-Francois d'Assise, 10 Rue Espinay, Quebec, G1L 3 L5, Canada.
Mirjam Marjolein GarvelinkCHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval site Hôpital St-Francois d'Assise, 10 Rue Espinay, Quebec, G1L 3 L5, Canada.
Daniel I McIsaacDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, 1053 Carling Ave, Rm B311, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada.
Geneviève Painchaud GuérardCHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval site Hôpital St-Francois d'Assise, 10 Rue Espinay, Quebec, G1L 3 L5, Canada.
Julie EmondCentre de santé et de services sociaux de la Vieille-Capitale, 880, rue Père-Marquette, Québec, G1M 2R9, Canada.
Nathalie BrièreCentre intégré universitaire en santé et services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, 880, rue Père-Marquette, Québec, G1M 2R9, Canada.
Dawn StaceyOttawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.

Funding

CIHR
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany elders struggle with the decision to remain at home or to move to an alternative location of care. A person's location of care can influence health and wellbeing. Healthcare organizations and policy makers are increasingly challenged to better support elders' dwelling and health care needs. A summary of the evidence that examines home care compared to other care locations can inform decision making. We surveyed and summarized the evidence evaluating the impact of home care versus alternative locations of care on elder health outcomes.

methodsWe conducted an overview of systematic reviews. Data sources included MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL. Eligible reviews included adults 65+ years, elder home care, alternative care locations, and elder health outcomes. Two independent reviewers screened citations. We extracted data and appraised review quality using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist. Results were synthesized narratively.

resultsThe search yielded 2575 citations, of which 19 systematic reviews were eligible. Three hundred and forty studies with 271,660 participants were synthesized across the systematic reviews. The categories of comparisons included: home with support versus independent living at home (n = 11 reviews), home care versus institutional care (n = 3 reviews), and rehabilitation at home versus conventional rehabilitation services (n = 7 reviews). Two reviews had data relevant to two categories. Most reviews favoured home with support to independent living at home. Findings comparing home care to institutional care were mixed. Most reviews found no differences in health outcomes between rehabilitation at home versus conventional rehabilitation services. Systematic review quality was moderate, with a median AMSTAR score of 6 (range 4 - 10 out of 11).

conclusionsThe evidence on the impact of home care compared to alternative care locations on elder health outcomes is heterogeneous. Our findings support positive health impacts of home support interventions for community dwelling elders compared to independent living at home. There is insufficient evidence to determine the impact of alternative care locations on elders' health. Additional research targeting housing and care options for the elderly is needed.

Indexed as

Health Services for the AgedHome Care ServicesIndependent LivingAgedHumansOutcome Assessment, Health CareDecision SupportHealthLocation of elderly careOverview of reviewsShared decision making

Identifiers

PMID28088166
PMCPMC5237488

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.