Determining suitability for home versus community-based ambulatory therapy services for adults with arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
A survey of clients seen by a community-based arthritis therapy service was conducted to investigate how characteristics of clients might provide information to assist in the development of guidelines for services delivered in the home versus in a community-based ambulatory setting.


METHODS
Clients completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and a mobility handicap measure. Two indicator variables selected as criteria for suitability for ambulatory therapy were the therapists' rating of client suitability and the clients' report of going out more than once weekly.


RESULTS
Based on these indicator variables, 60-76% of clients currently receiving home therapy by this service could potentially receive services in a community-based ambulatory setting.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate the usefulness of considering client characteristics when deciding whether clients need to be seen at home. This study emphasizes the need to determine the most efficient and effective methods of providing services to people in the community with chronic conditions.
Rothman
L M
LM
Badley
E M
EM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001168:Arthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires