title: Reducing utilisation of hospital services by case management: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: A 12-month randomised controlled trial was conducted in Hong Kong to evaluate the effectiveness of case management provided to a group of home-dwelling, frail elderly patients (control group: n = 47; intervention group: n = 45) in terms of utilisation of hospital services by these patients. Significant reductions (significance at P </= 0.05) in mean total number of hospital bed-days (P < 0.001), mean total episodes of hospital admissions (P < 0.001), and mean total number of attendances at the outpatient department (P < 0.05) were observed when the baseline and post-intervention differences between the intervention and control groups were compared. The study demonstrated that utilisation of hospital services could be significantly reduced when a group of elderly patients and their caregivers received timely interventions and appropriate services through case management services.
authors.affiliation: Haven of Hope Hospital, 8 Haven of Hope Road, Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. aleung@ha.org.hk.
authors.forename: Antony C T
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Daniel C N
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Chi-Pun
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chak-Sum
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.forename: Tak-Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Nelson W S
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D019090:Case Management; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans