Home care safety markers: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Home Care Services

Background:

• Home care is an expanding healthcare sector with increasing service demands.
• Patient safety in home care settings presents unique challenges and requires further research.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) are common conditions managed at home.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of the home care literature.
• To identify critical safety markers relevant to patients with COPD and CHF receiving home care.
• To advance the understanding of safety within the home care sector.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of existing literature on home care for COPD and CHF patients.
• Systematic identification and categorization of safety-related themes and markers.
• Synthesis of findings to highlight key areas of concern in home care safety.

Main Results:

• Seven distinct safety markers were identified in home care for COPD and CHF.
• Markers include patient isolation, communication barriers, unknown personnel, fragmented services, medication management issues, financial burdens, and caregiver health decline.
• These markers represent significant risks to patient well-being in the home environment.

Conclusions:

• The identified safety markers provide a framework for improving home care safety protocols.
• Addressing these seven markers is essential for enhancing patient outcomes and caregiver support.
• Further research and policy development are needed to mitigate identified risks in home care.