Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Country and Study reference | Study type | Participants | Primary outcome | Follow-up months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA, Feldman24 | CBA | 404 frail elderly and disabled homecare clients. | No primary stated. Home care costs, functioning, depression and satisfaction. | 16 |
| England, Glendinning25 | CBA | 1015 adults aged 18 and over receiving homecare or homecare re-ablement. | Health and social care related quality of life. | 9 to 12 |
| USA, Gottlieb26 | CBA | 159 adults aged over 60 years, receiving homecare services co-ordinated by a case manager. | No primary. Functional, service and equipment use/satisfaction outcomes. |
6 |
| New Zealand, King27 | RCT (Cluster) | 186 adults aged 65 years and over, receiving assistance from homecare agency. | Health Related Quality of Life (SF-36). | 7 |
| Australia, Lewin28 | CBA | 200 adults aged 60 and over referred for homecare assistance with domestic or personal care tasks. | No primary stated. Functional and service outcomes. |
12 |
| Australia, Lewin29 | RCT | 750* adults aged 65 and over, referred for homecare assistance with personal care. | Service outcome - use of on-going homecare (for personal care). | 12 |
| USA, Marek30 | CBA | 85 clients receiving state funded homecare program. | No primary stated. Cognition, ADL, depression, pain, dyspnea, medication management. | 12 |
| Canada, Markle-Reid31 | RCT | 126 adults aged 75 and over, eligible for ‘personal support’ services. | Functional Status and Quality of Life (SF-36). | 6 |
| Canada, Markle-Reid32 | RCT | 288 adults aged 75 and over, eligible for ‘personal support services’. | Functional Status and Quality of Life (SF-36). | 6 |
| Canada, Markle-Reid33 | RCT | 101 community-living stroke survivors using homecare services. | Health Related Quality of Life and functioning (SF-36). | 12 |
| New Zealand, Parsons34 | RCT (Cluster) | 205 adults aged 65 and over, newly referred for homecare. | Health Related Quality of Life (SF-36). | 6 |
| USA, Tinetti35 | CBA | 1382 adults aged 65 years and over, in receipt of Medicare-covered homecare. | Remaining at home, functional status, duration and intensity of home care episode. | 1 month (approx.) |
| Sweden, Zingmark36 | CBA | 74 adults aged over 65years in the process of applying for help with bathing. | Ability to perform ADL (ADL Taxonomy). | 4 (15 weeks) |
RCT: randomised controlled trial; CB: controlled before and after study.
*
750 included for service outcomes, 300 included for user outcomes (i.e. ADL ability).