title: How great a burden does early discharge to hospital-at-home impose on carers? A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to assess the effects of an early discharge hospital-at-home scheme on self-reported carer strain and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  a randomized controlled trial
  
  
  METHODS
  Bristol, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  133 carers of patients receiving either early discharge from hospital to hospital-at-home (n = 93) care or usual hospital care and discharge (n = 40).
  
  
  METHODS
  modified 12-item Carer Strain Index, COOP-WONCA charts and EuroQol EQ-5D at 4 weeks and 3 months post-randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the mean age of carers was 65 years; 56% were women. There were no marked differences between the groups in any of the outcomes used at either 4-week or 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  there was no evidence of increased self-reported burden imposed on carers of patients discharged early from hospital. Decisions on the implementation of hospital-at-home schemes should be influenced by considerations of cost and effectiveness rather than effects on carers. The effects on carers may, however, differ for other forms of home-based care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, UK. D.J.Gunnell@Bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gunnell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coast
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pounsford
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Darlow
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors