Study	Reason for exclusion
Bonnema 1998	RCT This study evaluated early discharge from hospital of women following surgery for breast cancer; no hospital at home was provided
Brooten 1994	RCT Obstetrics (this group of patients was not included in the review)
Bundred 1998	RCT This study evaluated early discharge from hospital of women following surgery for breast cancer; no hospital at home was provided
Cummings 1991	Review Review of home care as a substitute for nursing home care
Farnworth 1994	Non randomised study design
Gerson 1976	RCT No standard measures of outcome used. A physician, not blind to the patients’ group assignment, assessed clinical function. No criteria were used to define an untoward event. No intention to treat analysis, data were analysed by the care the patient received
Hansen 1992	RCT This study did not evaluate hospital at home, but a model for follow-up visits at home after discharge from hospital
Hedrick 1986	Review This review examined the different types of home care that are provided
Hernandez 2003	RCT 39% of those allocated to hospital care were not admitted to hospital, therefore the degree to which the intervention substituted for hospital care is not clear
Hill 1978	RCT This study evaluated hospital at home care for patients with a myocardial infarction. Managing this group of patients totally at home is now obsolete as thrombolytic therapy has made admission to hospital necessary
Klettke 1999	Cross over design
Koopman 1996	RCT This study compared patients treated with intravenous standard heparin administered in hospital with fixed dose subcutaneous low-molecular weight heparin administered at home, when feasible. Patients were taught to self-administer the low molecular weight heparin. Care was not provided in the patients’ homes by a team of health care professionals; the intervention was not therefore considered hospital at home
Levine 1996	RCT This study compared the use of intravenous standard heparin administered in the hospital with the administration of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin primarily at home. The study nurse taught the patient to administer the medication. Care was not provided in the patients’ homes by a team of health care professionals; the intervention was not therefore considered hospital at home
Magid 1989	RCT This trial recruited 22 patients to compare the acceptance of in-patient with home continuous intravenous infusion of chemotherapy. While in hospital patients were instructed on the use of the infusors before discharge. The infusion was delivered in a continuous flow over 24 hours and new defusers were attached by the patient. Care was not provided in the patients’ homes by a team of health care professionals. The intervention was not therefore considered hospital at home as no additional services were provided
Mather 1976	RCT This study evaluated hospital at home care for patients with a myocardial infarction. Managing this group of patients totally at home is now obsolete as thrombolytic therapy has made admission to hospital necessary
Melin 1992	RCT Recruited patients with long term care needs. Hospital at home was a substitute for long term care
Melin 1993	RCT Recruited patients with long term care needs. Hospital at home was a substitute for long term care
Romano 1991	RCT Compares therapies at home, no comparison with hospital care
Ronning 1998	RCT In-patient hospital rehabilitation compared with rehabilitation provided by the municipalities in a variety of settings which included nursing home rehabilitation on an in patient or out-patient basis, and further ambulatory rehabilitation by a visiting physical therapist, speech therapist and/or nurse. Primary care also provided
Stone 1968	CCT A controlled trial -control patients were selected to match the home care patients
Wade 1985	CCT Compared two districts - one with a domiciliary stroke service and one without
Williams 1981	RCT Patients were randomly allocated to 24 hour bed rest in hospital or mobilisation at home following intra-articular irradiation of the knee with yttrium-90. No additional services were provided at home
Wolter 2004	RCT Intravenous therapy, analysis based on number of readmissions, data not provided on number of people readmitted. Authors contacted, no reply
Zimmer 1984	RCT Evaluated the effectiveness of a home care programme for home bound chronically ill patients. The home care programme was not a substitute for in-patient hospital care, but an addition to existing community services
Zimmer 1985	RCT Evaluated the effectiveness of a home care programme for home bound chronically ill patients. The home care programme was not a substitute for in-patient hospital care, but an addition to existing community services

CCT = controlled clinical trial

RCT = randomised controlled trial