Methods	RCT Concealment of allocation: DONE Blinded assessment of primary outcomes: NOT DONE Follow up of patients: DONE (6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months) Baseline measurement: DONE Reliable primary outcome measures: DONE Protection against contamination: NOT CLEAR
Participants	Location: UK Elderly medical patients Age: 76 to 90 years Number of patients in 5 months: treatment = 30; control = 30
Interventions	Hospital at home (early discharge) Type of service: organised by hospital, provided by community; GP provided routine and emergency care Type of scheme: early discharge; not clear if 24-hour care provided; time limit of 6 weeks Skill mix: 1 nurse manager, 1 physiotherapist, 1 occupational therapist, 3 assistants (part time) Control group: in-patient hospital care
Outcomes	Mortality Functional status Psychological well-being In-patient hospital days Use of other health services
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors’ judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	A - Adequate