Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34035049›Full record

Observational studyBMJ health & care informatics2021

Impact of an anticipatory care planning intervention on unscheduled acute hospital care using difference-in-difference analysis.

Attakrit Leckcivilize, Paul McNamee, Christopher Cooper, Robby Steel

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ health & care informatics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Detection of Frailty in Primary Care.Aging medicine (Milton (N.S.W)) · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
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

4 authors.

Attakrit LeckcivilizeHealth Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK attakrit.leckcivilize@abdn.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6172-3902
Paul McNameeHealth Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Christopher CooperNHS Lothian Analytical Services, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.
Robby SteelDivision of Psychiatry, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Funding

Chief Scientist Office HERU1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Unscheduled admissions to hospital place great demands on the use of limited healthcare resources in health systems worldwide. A range of approaches exist to manage demand; however, interventions within hospitals have received less attention, and the evidence base on effectiveness is limited. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a novel intervention, implemented in National Health Service Lothian, to reduce the number of unscheduled attendances, and to estimate the impact on hospital admissions, length of hospital stay and overall total acute hospital costs.

methodsBefore and after observational study of an anticipatory care planning intervention targeted among people identified by a prediction algorithm (Scottish Patients at Risk of Readmission and Admission) as being at high risk of future unscheduled hospital admissions. The statistical significance of the difference in outcomes observed before and after implementation of the intervention between August 2014 and July 2015 was tested using difference-in-difference analysis.

resultsThe intervention was estimated to reduce the number of unscheduled hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits by approximately 0.36 (95% CI -0.905 to 0.191) per patient per year (based on 954 and 450 patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively). There was also non-significant reductions in length of hospital stay for unscheduled admissions and hospital costs for ED visits and inpatient care. The overall predicted effect of the intervention for the average participant was a saving of around £2912 (95% CI -7347.0 to 1523.9) per patient per year.

conclusionAn anticipatory care planning intervention focused among people judged to be at higher risk of future unscheduled hospital admissions can be effective in reducing the number of unscheduled admissions to hospital and ED visits, and may lead to an overall saving in use of hospital resources.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleHospital CostsHumansLength of StayMaleMiddle AgedPatient Care PlanningPatient ReadmissionSocioeconomic FactorsState MedicineUnited KingdomBMJ health informaticsinformation managementpatient care

Identifiers

PMID34035049
PMCPMC8154976

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.