Effectiveness of post-discharge case management in general-medical outpatients: a randomized, controlled trial

Psychosomatics. 2006 Sep-Oct;47(5):421-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.47.5.421.

Abstract

This study was initiated to determine the impact of post-discharge, nurse-led, home-based case management intervention on the number of emergency readmissions, level of care utilization, quality of life, and psychological functioning. Patients discharged home from a general hospital (N=147) were randomly assigned to usual care or nurse-led, home-based, case management intervention. During the 24 weeks of follow-up, no difference between the two groups was found for readmission, care utilization, quality of life, or psychological functioning. Patients in the control group tended to move sooner to non-independent living accommodation than patients in the nurse-led, home-based, case management intervention group.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aftercare / organization & administration*
  • Aged
  • Case Management / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Home Care Services / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Discharge*
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data
  • Quality of Life