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Home health services research.
Elizabeth A Madigan1, Susan Tullai-McGuinness, Donna Felber Neff
1International Health Programs, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
Annual Review of Nursing Research
|July 3, 2002
Summary
This review of home health care research highlights that while rehospitalization is common, patient outcomes remain unclear. Further research is needed to predict readmissions and define effective home care outcomes for elders.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Gerontology
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Home health care is a critical service for elders.
- Research in this area has expanded significantly.
- A comprehensive review of existing literature is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize published research reports on home health care.
- To analyze findings related to resource use and patient outcomes.
- To identify gaps and recommend future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SSCI.
- Inclusion criteria: 1995-2001, US-based, English, elders (65+).
- Analysis of 69 research reports focusing on resource use and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Most studies lacked theoretical frameworks; Andersen Behavioral Model was most common.
- Resource use findings are limited due to varied measures and study designs.
- Rehospitalization is prevalent but difficult to predict.
- Patient outcomes research is inconclusive due to inconsistent measures.
Conclusions:
- More research is needed to understand home health care resource utilization.
- Predictive models for rehospitalization require further development.
- Defining and measuring patient outcomes in home health care needs standardization.
- Integrating home health care with community services is recommended.