Outcome of Elderly Patients Enrolled in Home Health Care Program Affiliated to Al-Hada and Al-Tayef Military Hospitals Program in KSA | ||||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||||
| Article 6, Volume 37, Issue 4, October 2007, Page 869-887 PDF (244.02 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2007.22564 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
| Mohamed M. Makhlouf* | ||||
| Department of Family Medicine, Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Tayef, KSA | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Home health care is a rapidly growing health care sector. An increasing older population and the desire to reduce acute health care costs have contributed to its growth. Moreover, older persons and their family members do prefer home care. A prospective cohort study was implemented to determine the outcome of elderly patients enrolled inthe Home Health Care program affiliated to Al-Hada and Al-Tayef Military Hospitals program, KSA and investigate some factors associated with the outcome of those patients. A total of 131 elderly enrolled inthe program were included. Sociodemographic and medical history were obtained, medical records were reviewed and full clinical assessment was conducted. The study extended for 19 months. All elderly were followed-up until discharge from services, readmission to hospital, death, or end of the study. Results revealed that by the end of the study, 65.5% of the elderly were still in the service, 6.9% died, and 17.6% were readmitted to the hospital and didn’t’ return back. The factors significantly associated with death or readmission to the hospital were the principal diagnosis, higher number of comorbidities, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atrial fibrillation (AF), presence of associated problems, and higher number and earlier timing for emergency visits to hospitals. The independent predictors for death and readmission to hospitals were altered consciousness on admission, presence of AF, COPD, and higher number of emergency visits to hospitals. Further studies including control groups receiving different modalities of care are required to assess the effectiveness of the program. Cost effective analysis of the service is recommended. Better selection of the patients for the service and assuring their stabilization before admission may improve the outcome of these patients and enhance the quality of care. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Outcome; elderly patients; Home Health Care Program; KSA | ||||
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