The development of an evaluation framework for a Hospital at Home service

An integrated understanding of the impact of hospital at home: a mixed-methods study to articulate and test a programme theory

BACKGROUND

Hospital at Home (HaH) provides intensive, hospital-level care in patients' homes for acute conditions that would normally require hospitalisation, using multidisciplinary teams. As a programme of complex medical-social interventions, a HaH programme theory has not been fully articulated although implicit in the structures, functions, and activities of the existing HaH services. We aimed to unearth the tacit theory from international evidence and test the soundness of it by studying UK HaH services.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review (29 articles) adopting a 'realist review' approach (theory articulation) and examined 11 UK-based services by interviewing up to 3 staff members from each service (theory testing). The review and interview data were analysed using Framework Analysis and Purposive Text Analysis.

RESULTS

The programme theory has three components- the organisational, utilisation and impact theories. The impact theory consists of key assumptions about the change processes brought about by HaH's activities and functions, as detailed in the organisational and utilisation theories. HaH teams should encompass multiple disciplines to deliver comprehensive assessments and have skill sets for physically delivering hospital-level processes of care in the home. They should aim to treat a broad range of conditions in patients who are clinically complex and felt to be vulnerable to hospital acquired harms. Services should cover 7 days a week, have plans for 24/7 response and deliver relational continuity of care through consistent staffing. As a result, patients' and carers' knowledge, skills, and confidence in disease management and self-care should be strengthened with a sense of safety during HaH treatment, and carers better supported to fulfil their role with minimal added care burden.

CONCLUSIONS

There are organisational factors for HaH services and healthcare processes that contribute to better experience of care and outcomes for patients. HaH services should deliver care using hospital level processes through teams that have a focus on holistic and individually tailored care with continuity of therapeutic relationships between professionals and patients and carers resulting in less complexity and fragmentation of care. This analysis informs how HaH services can organise resources and design processes of care to optimise patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Virtual wards: a rapid evidence synthesis and implications for the care of older people

BACKGROUND

Virtual wards are being rapidly developed within the National Health Service in the UK, and frailty is one of the first clinical pathways. Virtual wards for older people and existing hospital at home services are closely related.

METHODS

In March 2022, we searched Medline, CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and medRxiv for evidence syntheses which addressed clinical-effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, barriers and facilitators, or staff, patient or carer experience for virtual wards, hospital at home or remote monitoring alternatives to inpatient care.

RESULTS

We included 28 evidence syntheses mostly relating to hospital at home. There is low to moderate certainty evidence that clinical outcomes including mortality (example pooled RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.60-0.99) were probably equivalent or better for hospital at home. Subsequent residential care admissions are probably reduced (example pooled RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.22-0.57). Cost-effectiveness evidence demonstrated methodological issues which mean the results are uncertain. Evidence is lacking on cost implications for patients and carers. Barriers and facilitators operate at multiple levels (organisational, clinical and patient). Patient satisfaction may be improved by hospital at home relative to inpatient care. Evidence for carer experience is limited.

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantial evidence for the clinical effectiveness of hospital at home but less evidence for virtual wards. Guidance for virtual wards is lacking on key aspects including team characteristics, outcome selection and data protection. We recommend that research and evaluation is integrated into development of virtual ward models. The issue of carer strain is particularly relevant.

Patient satisfaction with a hospital-in-the-home service

The hospital-in-the-home (HitH) model is an alternative model of healthcare that allows patients to return home and receive short-term treatment in a familiar environment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate patient satisfaction with the GSTT@home service in the London boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth. A questionnaire comprising 20 questions was developed with 5-point Likert response and free text options. A total of 1426 questionnaires were distributed, of which 206 (14%) were returned. The majority of respondents said they would recommend the @home service (n=200, 97%) and were very satisfied or satisfied with the service (n=203, 99%). Only 48 respondents provided qualitative free text comments, and overall, these were very positive and supportive of the @home service. The findings support the benefits of the @home model of care from the patients' perspective.

Patients' experiences during the first 12 weeks after discharge in fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Due to the shortened length of stay in fast-track total hip and knee arthroplasty, patients must at a very early stage following surgery take responsibility for their postoperative care and treatment. It is important to establish if this treatment modality of fast-track is not only cost-effective, but meets patients' expectations and needs.

AIM

To explore the lived experience of patients in fast-track total hip and knee arthroplasty during the first 12 weeks after discharge.

METHODS

A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was used inspired by Ricoeur's theory of narrative and interpretation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 8 patients 2 and 12 weeks after discharge.

FINDINGS

Through the structural analysis 3 themes emerged: 1) Dealing with transition between hospital and home, 2) Pain and self-management of medication, 3) Challenges in rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

Patients appreciated only 1 or 2 days in hospital. However, they were not sufficiently involved in the discharge planning. There was a feeling of uncertainty and being left on their own after discharge, which could affect their pain management and recovery at home. There is a need to develop in partnership with each individual patient a post discharge plan of care and rehabilitation to meet their individual needs, preferences and mode of motivation.