Postacute care for older people in community hospitals: a multicenter randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of community hospital care on independence for older people needing rehabilitation with that of general hospital care.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Seven community hospitals and five general hospitals in the midlands and north of England.


METHODS
Four hundred ninety patients needing rehabilitation after hospital admission with an acute illness.


METHODS
Multidisciplinary team care for older people in community hospitals.


METHODS
The primary outcome was the Nottingham extended activities of daily living scale (NEADL); secondary outcomes were the Barthel Index, Nottingham Health Profile, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, mortality, discharge destination, 6-month residence status, and satisfaction with services.


RESULTS
Loss of independence at 6 months was significantly less likely in the community hospital group (mean adjusted NEADL change score group difference 3.27; 95% confidence interval 0.26-6.28; P=.03). The results for the secondary outcome measures were similar for the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Postacute community hospital rehabilitation care for older people is associated with greater independence.
Young
John
J
Academic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, University of Leeds, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. john.young@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk
Green
John
J
Forster
Anne
A
Small
Neil
N
Lowson
Karin
K
Bogle
Sue
S
George
James
J
Heseltine
David
D
Jayasuriya
Tilak
T
Rowe
Jed
J
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019467:Subacute Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome