Study protocol of a quasi-experimental trial to compare two models of home care for older people in the primary setting.

Background: Preventive home visits are suited for patients with reduced mobility, such as older people. Healthcare needs for older patients are expected to increase due to the extended life expectancy estimated in coming years. The implementation of low-cost, patient-centered methodologies may buffer this rise in health care costs without affecting the quality of service.

Predictors of mortality among elderly dependent home care patients.

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify which variables--among those commonly available and used in the primary care setting--best predict mortality in a cohort of elderly dependent patients living at home (EDPLH) that were included in a home care program provided by Primary Care Teams (PCT). Additionally, we explored the risk of death among a sub-group of these patients that were admitted to hospital the year before they entered the home care program.

Methods: A one-year longitudinal cohort study of a sample of EDPLH patients included in a home care programme provided by 72 PCTs.

[Factors associated with hospitalization in a cohort of elderly patients included in a home care program].

Background And Objective: The objective is to identify the features associated with next year hospital admissions among elderly dependent patients living at home (EDLH) and visited by primary care teams at their home setting.

Patients And Method: Longitudinal cohort study of a sample of EDLH patients admitted to a home care programme delivered by 72 primary care teams. A global health assessment was performed at recruitment in all patients (health and social status, informal and formal carer characteristics and burden of care).

Nursing workload predictors in Catalonia (Spain): a home care cohort study.

Objective: To identify the characteristics of chronic patients and their environment in order to predict the nursing workload required 1 year after their inclusion in a home care program.

Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out in 72 primary health care teams in Catalonia (Spain) with a 1-year follow-up of 1,068 home care patients over 64 years old. The variables collected from each patient included data on health and social status (Charlson and Barthel indexes and the Pfeiffer, Braden and Gijon scales), carer overburden (Zarit scale), hospital admissions, use of emergency services, self-perceived health (SF-12) and the number of health worker visits.

[Health problems also explain social services use in home care].

Objective: To identify which social and health variables are associated with receiving social services in patients included in home care programmes with the implementation of the Dependence Law.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 72 primary health care teams in Catalonia.

[Monitoring a home care cohort].

Objectives: To evaluate home care by primary care teams for people over 65 years old with chronic conditions, in order to identify improvement opportunities. To identify patient and care variables associated with cognitive and functional impairment, nursing home admission, attendance at casualty units, hospital admission and death.

Design: Analytic study of the follow-up of a cohort for 3 years.