The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study
Abstract Background Emergency department visits and hospitalizations (EDVH) place a large burden on patients and the health care system. The presence of informal caregivers may be beneficial for reducing EDVH among patients with specific diagnoses. Our objective was to determine whether the presence...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-2880-9 |
| _version_ | 1818321976893112320 |
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| author | Robert Abtan Nooshin Khobzi Rotondi Alison Macpherson Michael Anthony Rotondi |
| author_facet | Robert Abtan Nooshin Khobzi Rotondi Alison Macpherson Michael Anthony Rotondi |
| author_sort | Robert Abtan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Emergency department visits and hospitalizations (EDVH) place a large burden on patients and the health care system. The presence of informal caregivers may be beneficial for reducing EDVH among patients with specific diagnoses. Our objective was to determine whether the presence of an informal caregiver was associated with the occurrence of an EDVH among clients 50 years of age or older. Methods Using a database accessed through the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), we identified 479 adults over 50 years of age who received home care in Toronto, Canada. Exposure variables were extracted from the interRAI health assessment form completed at the time of admission to the CCAC. EDVH data were linked to provincial records through the CCAC database. Data on emergency room visits were included for up to 6 months after time of admission to home care. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the occurrence of an EDVH. Results Approximately half of all clients had an EDVH within 180 days of admission to CCAC home care. No significant association was found between the presence of an informal caregiver and the occurrence of an EDVH. Significant factors associated with an EDVH included: Participants having a poor perception of their health (adjusted OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.11–2.56), severe cardiac disorders (adjusted OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.04–2.29), and pulmonary diseases (adjusted OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.16–3.47). Conclusions The presence of an informal caregiver was not significantly associated with the occurrence of an EDVH. Future research should examine the potential associations between length of hospital stay or quality of life and the presence of an informal caregiver. In general, our work contributes to a growing body of literature that is increasingly concerned with the health of our aging population, and more specifically, health service use by elderly patients, which may have implications for health care providers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:49:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc7d30a311f942098c6eb4230826e68a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:49:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc7d30a311f942098c6eb4230826e68a2022-12-21T23:49:57ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632018-01-011811710.1186/s12913-018-2880-9The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational studyRobert Abtan0Nooshin Khobzi Rotondi1Alison Macpherson2Michael Anthony Rotondi3School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York UniversityMusculoskeletal Health & Outcomes Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s HospitalSchool of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York UniversitySchool of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York UniversityAbstract Background Emergency department visits and hospitalizations (EDVH) place a large burden on patients and the health care system. The presence of informal caregivers may be beneficial for reducing EDVH among patients with specific diagnoses. Our objective was to determine whether the presence of an informal caregiver was associated with the occurrence of an EDVH among clients 50 years of age or older. Methods Using a database accessed through the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), we identified 479 adults over 50 years of age who received home care in Toronto, Canada. Exposure variables were extracted from the interRAI health assessment form completed at the time of admission to the CCAC. EDVH data were linked to provincial records through the CCAC database. Data on emergency room visits were included for up to 6 months after time of admission to home care. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the occurrence of an EDVH. Results Approximately half of all clients had an EDVH within 180 days of admission to CCAC home care. No significant association was found between the presence of an informal caregiver and the occurrence of an EDVH. Significant factors associated with an EDVH included: Participants having a poor perception of their health (adjusted OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.11–2.56), severe cardiac disorders (adjusted OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.04–2.29), and pulmonary diseases (adjusted OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.16–3.47). Conclusions The presence of an informal caregiver was not significantly associated with the occurrence of an EDVH. Future research should examine the potential associations between length of hospital stay or quality of life and the presence of an informal caregiver. In general, our work contributes to a growing body of literature that is increasingly concerned with the health of our aging population, and more specifically, health service use by elderly patients, which may have implications for health care providers.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-2880-9Emergency department visitsHospitalizationsCommunity careInformal caregivers |
| spellingShingle | Robert Abtan Nooshin Khobzi Rotondi Alison Macpherson Michael Anthony Rotondi The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study BMC Health Services Research Emergency department visits Hospitalizations Community care Informal caregivers |
| title | The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study |
| title_full | The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study |
| title_fullStr | The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study |
| title_short | The effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients: a prospective observational study |
| title_sort | effect of informal caregiver support on utilization of acute health services among home care clients a prospective observational study |
| topic | Emergency department visits Hospitalizations Community care Informal caregivers |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-2880-9 |
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