Randomised controlled trial comparing hospital at home care with inpatient hospital care. I: three month follow up of health outcomes.

objectivesTo compare hospital at home care with inpatient hospital care in terms of patient outcomes.

designRandomised controlled trial with three month follow up.

settingDistrict general hospital and catchment area of neighbouring community trust. SUBJECTS: Patients recovering from hip replacement (n=86), knee replacement (n=86), and hysterectomy (n=238); elderly medical patients (n=96); and patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (n=32).

interventionsHospital at home care or inpatient hospital care.

main outcome measuresDartmouth COOP chart to measure patients' general health status; SF-36 to measure possible limitations in physical functioning of patients with hysterectomy; disease specific measures-chronic respiratory disease questionnaire, Barthel index for elderly medical patients, Oxford hip score, and Bristol knee score; hospital readmission and mortality data; carer strain index to measure burden on carers; patients' and carers' preferred form of care.

resultsAt follow up, there were no major differences in outcome between hospital at home care and hospital care for any of the patient groups except that those recovering from hip replacement reported a significantly greater improvement in quality of life with hospital at home care (difference in change from baseline value 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.13 to 0.88). Hospital at home did not seem suitable for patients recovering from a knee replacement, as 14 (30%) of patients allocated to hospital at home remained in hospital. Patients in all groups preferred hospital at home care except those with chronic obstructive airways disease. No differences were detected for carer burden. Carers of patients recovering from knee replacement preferred hospital at home care, while carers of patients recovering from a hysterectomy preferred hospital care.

conclusionsFew differences in outcome were detected. Thus, the cost of hospital at home compared with hospital care becomes a primary concern.