Study of a Quasi-Experimental Trial to Compare Two Models of Home Care for the Elderly in an Urban Primary Care Setting in Spain: Results of Intermediate Analysis.

Functional dependence is associated with an increase in need for resources, mortality, and institutionalization. Different models of home care have been developed to improve these results, but very few studies contain relevant information. This quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate two models of home care (HC) in a Primary Care setting: an Integrated Model (IM) (control model) and a Functional Model (FM) (study model). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two years follow-up of patients 65 years old and older from two Primary Health Care Centres (58 IM, 68 FM) was carried out, recruited between June-October 2018 in Badalona (Barcelona, Spain). Results of the mid-term evaluation are presented in this article. Health status, quality of care, and resource utilization have been evaluated through comprehensive geriatric assessment, quality of life and perception of health care scales, consumption of resources and complementary tests. RESULTS: A significant difference was detected in the number of hospital admissions (FM/IM 0.71 (1.24)/1.35 (1.90), p: 0.031) in the Accident and Emergency department (FM/IM 2.01 (2.12)/3.53 (3.59), p: 0.006) and cumulative days of admission per year (FM/IM 5.43 (10.92)/14.69 (20.90), p: 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: FM offers greater continuity of care at home for the patient and reduces hospital admissions, as well as admission time, thereby saving on costs.

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. In order to find the best home care model with less investment, this paper describes a study protocol comparing two models of home care for older people. METHODS: We describe a quasi-experimental study that compares the outcome of two different home care models already implemented in two primary care centers in Badalona (Barcelona, Spain). The traditional model (control model) is integrated in the sense that is continuous, the same primary care center team looks after its assigned patients both at the center and in preventive home visits. The new functional home care model (study model), consisting of a highly trained team, is specifically designed to meet patient needs and give total attention to preventive home interventions. The study will start and end on the expected dates, June 2018 to October 2020, and include all patients over 65 years old already enrolled in the home care programs of the primary care centers selected. The primary endpoint assessed will be the difference in hospitalization days between patients included in both home care programs. Other variables regarding health status, quality of care and resource utilization will also be compared between the two models. DISCUSSION: The study in progress will assess whether a functional and highly trained home care team will meet the ever-aging population needs in terms of cost and health outcomes better than a traditional, integrated one. Lessons learned from this pilot study will provide guidelines for a future model of home care based on the IHI Triple Aim: better care, better health, and lower costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03461315; March 12, 2018).

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en trabajadores sanitarios / Health related quality of life in health workers

El estado de bienestar en que vivimos en los países desarrollados hace que surja la necesidad de buscar herramientas que sean una imagen fiel del estado de salud de la población como es la medición de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) de los trabajadores sanitarios como medida de su estado de salud. Para ello hemos realizado un estudio transversal, prospectivo y descriptivo de una muestra de 542 trabajadores seleccionada por muestreo sistemático. Como variable dependiente se evaluó la CVRS a través del cuestionario SF-36. Este cuestionario evalúa el estado de salud a través de 7 escalas (Función física, rol físico, salud general, vitalidad, función social, rol emocional y salud mental) valoradas de 0 a 100 (siendo 100 el mejor valor) y de dos dominios globales estandarizados para población general siendo su valor 50, (índice general de salud física e índice general de salud mental). Se tiene en cuenta la edad y el sexo para el análisis de los resultados. Los resultados más relevantes obtenidos son: Edad media 46 años (DE 10,4), 82% mujeres. Función física: 88.7 (Población general-PG-: 84.7); Rol físico: 86.5 (PG: 83.2); Dolor: 71.9 (PG: 79); Salud general: 70 (PG: 68.3); Vitalidad: 66.1 (PG: 66.9); Función social: 86.4 (PG: 90.1); Rol emocional: 87.8 (PG: 88.6); Salud mental: 72.6 (PG: 73). Índice global de salud física: 51.9; Índice global de salud mental: 49.8. Los valores encontrados tanto para las escalas de salud física como mental son ligeramente mejores que los establecidos para la población general para el mismo rango de edad y sexo, salvo en la escala de dolor (AU)

The welfare state in whom we live in the developed countries does that there arises the need to look for tools that are a faithful image of the health of the population such as it is the measurement of the quality of life related to the health. The aim of our study is to know the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of the sanitary workers as measure of their health status. For it we have realized a cross-sectional, prospective and descriptive study of a sample of 542 workers selected by systematic sampling. The dependent variable was assessed HRQOL by the SF-36. This questionnaire assesses the health status across 7 scales (physical function, role physical, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role and mental health) from 0 to 100 (100 being the best value) and two global domains standardized for general population value being 50, (general index of physical health, and general index of mental health). It takes into account the age and the sex for the analysis of the results. The most important results obtained are: Middle Age 46 years (SD 10,4), 82 % women. Physical function: 88.7 (PG-general population: 84.7), role physical, 86.5 (PG: 83.2); Pain 71.9 (PG 79), general health: 70 (PG: 68.3); Vitality: 66.1 (PG: 66.9 ), social function: 86.4 (PG: 90.1), Role emotional 87.8 (PG: 88.6); Mental Health: 72.6 (PG 73). Global index of physical health: 51.9; global Index of mental health: 49.8. The values found so much for the scales of physical as mental health are lightly better than the established ones for the general population for the same range of age and sex, except in the scale of pain (AU)