[Factors associated with the hospital at home workload: A Delphi consensus study]

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Research
• Health Services Research

Context:

• Hospital at Home (HaH) services are expanding, necessitating an understanding of professional workload.
• Effective management of HaH requires identifying and prioritizing workload factors.
• Previous research has not comprehensively addressed the multifaceted factors contributing to HaH professional workload.

Purpose:

• To identify and prioritize factors contributing to the workload of hospital at home (HaH) professionals.
• To develop a comprehensive list of workload determinants for HaH practitioners.
• To provide a foundation for optimizing HaH service delivery and professional well-being.

Summary:

• A qualitative study utilized a systematic literature review, expert group meetings, Delphi technique, and nominal group meetings to identify workload factors.
• Initially 85 factors were identified, refined through expert consensus to a final list of 14.
• Key factors relate to patient residence, health status, social situation, and the nature of home-based healthcare delivery.

Impact:

• The identified factors can inform organizational improvements and workflow optimization for HaH professionals.
• Findings support enhanced resource allocation and policy development for HaH services.
• This research contributes to improving the sustainability and efficiency of hospital at home models.