Effectiveness of home based support for older people: systematic review and meta-analysisCommentary: When, where, and why do preventive home visits work?
BMJ 2001; 323 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7315.719 (Published 29 September 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;323:719
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of home visiting programmes that offer health promotion and preventive care to older people. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies of home visiting.
Participants: Older people living at home, including frail older people at risk of adverse outcomes.
Outcome measures: Mortality, admission to hospital, admission to institutional care, functional status, health status.
Results: Home visiting was associated with a significant reduction in mortality. The pooled odds ratio for eight studies that assessed mortality in members of the general elderly population was 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.64 to 0.89). Five studies of home visiting to frail older people who were at risk of adverse outcomes also showed a significant reduction in mortality (0.72; 0.54 to 0.97). Home visiting was associated with a significant reduction in admissions to long term care in members of the general elderly population (0.65; 0.46 to 0.91). For three studies of home visiting to frail, “at risk” older people, the pooled odds ratio was 0.55 (0.35 to 0.88). Meta-analysis of six studies of home visiting to members of the general elderly population showed no significant reduction in admissions to hospital (odds ratio 0.95; 0.80 to 1.09). Three studies showed no significant effect on health (standardised effect size 0.06; −0.07 to 0.18). Four studies showed no effect on activities of daily living (0.05; −0.07 to 0.17).
Conclusion: Home visits to older people can reduce mortality and admission to long term institutional care.
What is already known on this topic
What is already known on this topic The benefits of regular, preventive home visits to older people are the subject of controversy
A recent systematic review found no clear evidence that preventive home visits were effective
What this study adds
What this study adds This meta-analysis of 15 trials shows that home visiting can reduce mortality and admission to institutional care among older people
Footnotes
- Accepted 13 June 2001
Effectiveness of home based support for older people: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Ruth Elkan, research fellow (Ruth.Elkan{at}nottingham.ac.uk)a,
- Denise Kendrick, senior lecturerb,
- Michael Dewey, senior lecturerc,
- Michael Hewitt, evaluation and effectiveness managerd,
- Jane Robinson, professor emeritusa,
- Mitch Blair, senior lecturer in child healthe,
- Deb Williams, lecturera,
- Kathy Brummell, health visitora
- a School of Nursing, Postgraduate Division, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH
- b School of Community Health Sciences, Division of General Practice, Floor 13, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
- c School of Community Health Sciences, Trent Institute for Health Services Research, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham
- d Evaluation Audit Centre for Research, Kingsmill Centre, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 4JL
- e Northwick Park and St Mark's NHS Trust, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
- MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR
- Correspondence to: R Elkan
- Accepted 13 June 2001
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of home visiting programmes that offer health promotion and preventive care to older people. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies of home visiting.
Participants: Older people living at home, including frail older people at risk of adverse outcomes.
Outcome measures: Mortality, admission to hospital, admission to institutional care, functional status, health status.
Results: Home visiting was associated with a significant reduction in mortality. The pooled odds ratio for eight studies that assessed mortality in members of the general elderly population was 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.64 to 0.89). Five studies of home visiting to frail older people who were at risk of adverse outcomes also showed a significant reduction in mortality (0.72; 0.54 to 0.97). Home visiting was associated with a significant reduction in admissions to long term care in members of the general elderly population (0.65; 0.46 to 0.91). For three studies of home visiting to frail, “at risk” older people, the pooled odds ratio was 0.55 (0.35 to 0.88). Meta-analysis of six studies of home visiting to members of the general elderly population showed no significant reduction in admissions to hospital (odds ratio 0.95; 0.80 to 1.09). Three studies showed no significant effect on health (standardised effect size 0.06; −0.07 to 0.18). Four studies showed no effect on activities of daily living (0.05; −0.07 to 0.17).
Conclusion: Home visits to older people can reduce mortality and admission to long term institutional care.
What is already known on this topic
What is already known on this topic The benefits of regular, preventive home visits to older people are the subject of controversy
A recent systematic review found no clear evidence that preventive home visits were effective
What this study adds
What this study adds This meta-analysis of 15 trials shows that home visiting can reduce mortality and admission to institutional care among older people
Footnotes
Editorial by Clark
Funding NHS research and development health technology assessment programme.
Competing interests JR has been reimbursed by the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, the Royal College of Nursing, and the Royal College of Practitioners for attending conferences.
- Accepted 13 June 2001
Commentary: When, where, and why do preventive home visits work?
- Matthias Egger, senior lecturer in clinical epidemiology. (m.egger{at}bristol.ac.uk)
- a School of Nursing, Postgraduate Division, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH
- b School of Community Health Sciences, Division of General Practice, Floor 13, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
- c School of Community Health Sciences, Trent Institute for Health Services Research, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham
- d Evaluation Audit Centre for Research, Kingsmill Centre, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 4JL
- e Northwick Park and St Mark's NHS Trust, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
- MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR
Footnotes
Competing interests None declared.