Table 2.

Study characteristics

Author, year and location	Study design and setting	Number of participants, age and condition	Type of volunteer care intervention, duration of data collection and number of type of volunteers	Comparison/control and duration of data collection	Outcomes measured
Delirium
Bateman et al. (2016) Australia	Quasi‐experimental; one group before and after Acute rural hospital	Total 64 patients (Int‐G = last 15 patients enrolled; Cont‐G = first 15 patients enrolled) Aged ≥ 65 years (or ≥ 50 years for Aboriginal persons) Dementia/delirium diagnosis, known risk factors for delirium or SMMSE < 25/30	Person‐centred volunteer care weekdays 08.00–12.30 and 15.00 to 19.00 (data recorded over 8 months) Int: General conversation, feeding/hydration, vision/hearing assistance, reassurance and encouraging ambulation Number of volunteers = 18 Type—many previously in caring profession	Beginning of project (data recorded over 8 months)	Use of analgesics on discharge Use of antipsychotics/psychotropic medications Length of stay, days Falls, n Delirium, n
Caplan and Harper (2007) Australia	Quasi‐experimental; one group before and after Suburban tertiary hospital, one ward, acute and rehab geriatric unit	37 patients (Int‐G n = 16; Cont‐G n = 21) Aged ≥ 70 years Frailty—at least one risk factor for dev. delirium Int‐G mean age = 85.6 ± 7.4 Cont‐G mean age = 83.8 ± 4.7	REVIVE volunteer delirium prevention programme weekdays 14.00 to 19.00 (data recorded over 5 months) Int: Daily orientation, therapeutic activities, feeding/hydration assistance and vision/hearing protocols Number of volunteers = No information provided Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded over 5 months)	Delirium incidence/severity (MDAS)/duration Cognitive function (MMSE) Falls, n Residential aged care placement, n Unplanned readmission, n Frailty/physical function (Barthel Index) Length of stay, days
Gorski et al. (2017) Europe	Quasi‐experimental; one group before and after Tertiary Hospital Acute Care Medical Ward	130 patients (Int‐G n = 65; Con‐G n = 65) Aged ≥ 75 years Int‐G mean age = 84.9 ± 5.3 Cont‐G mean age = 84.4 ± 5.6 Admitted for acute condition from Emergency Department	Initial 5 days of hospitalisation (begin within 48 hr of admission)—trained volunteer‐based assistance (data recorded after intervention) Int: Education and assistance in disorientation, psychological distress, immobility, dehydration, malnutrition, sensory deprivation and sleep problems Number of volunteers = 18 Type—HP Students	Standard Care (data retrospectively matched before intervention)	Length of stay, days Antipsychotic drugs during hospitalisation Falls, n In‐hospital death, n Delirium, n
Falls
Donoghue et al. (2005) Australia	Prospective descriptive study; Hospital Acute Aged Care Unit, one ward	One ward, Patients high falls risks, allocated to 4‐bed CO room next to nurse station—pilot 2nd 4‐bed CO room added next to nurse station—extended study	Volunteer Companion Observers (C.O’s) weekdays 08:00 to 20:00 (data recorded after intervention) Pilot study 6 months; Number of volunteers = 26 Extended study 18 months; Number of volunteers = 128 C.O’s Int: Observe patients for increase agitation/risky behaviour and notify nurse if patient attempted to move General conversation, activities and practical assistance C.O. walked ward to look for at‐risk patients Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded before intervention)	Falls/1,000 bed days—observation room Falls/1,000 bed days—aged care ward Multiple falls
Giles et al. (2006) Australia	Prospective descriptive study; Two public hospitals, two wards—geriatric wards	Two wards Patients high falls risks, allocated to 4‐bed CO room	Volunteer Companion Observer (C.O) weekdays 09:00 to 17:00 (data recorded 5 months after intervention) Int: Observe patients for risk of falling and notify nurse if patients may fall and change in patients behaviour General conversation, activities and practical assistance Number of volunteers = 45 Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded 5 months before intervention)	Falls/1,000 bed days—wards
Nutrition
Huang et al. (2015) Australia	Quasi‐experimental; matched before and after 60‐bed suburban hospital, 2 aged care wards	8 patients Aged 83 ± 4.5 years Identified ‘at‐risk’ or malnourished by hospital dietician and requiring full assistance with meals and/or requiring encouragement and some assistance at meals.	Volunteer assists with lunchtime on weekdays (data recorded for 3 main meals, morning tea and afternoon snacks on two weekdays) Int: Assisting included tray position, cutting food, opening packages, handling cutlery and encouragement Number of volunteers = 5 Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded for 3 main meals, morning tea and afternoon snacks on two weekend days)	Avg. macronutrient and energy intake (Observation) Intake as a % of daily requirement (Schofield equation)
Manning et al. (2012) Australia (follow on study by Walton et al., 2008)	Quasi‐experimental; matched before and after Public suburban hospital, 2 aged care wards	23 patients Aged > 65 years old referred to programme Age = 83.2 ± 8.9 years	Volunteer assists with lunchtime feeding on weekdays (data recorded at lunchtime on two weekdays) Int: Assisting included meal tray set‐up, encouragement and general conversation Number of volunteers = No information provided Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded at lunchtime on two weekend days)	Avg. protein and energy intake (observations and weighed plate) Intake as a % of daily requirement (Schofield equation)
Roberts et al. (2017) UK	Quasi‐experimental; one group before and after Tertiary Hospital Female Acute Medical Ward, two wards	407 patients; 2 wards (observational year n = 221; intervention year n = 186; 104 Int‐G, 82 Con‐G) Aged ≥ 70 years Female Age = 87.5 ± 5.4 years	Volunteer feeding assistance during lunchtime on weekdays (data recorded 24‐hr period; 7 days of observational year (over 9 months); 6 days of intervention year (over 8 months) Int: encouragement, opening packages, cutting and feeding patients Number of volunteers = 29 Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded 24‐hr period; 7 days of observational year (over 9 months); 6 days of intervention year (over 8 months)	Avg. protein and energy intake (observations and weighed plate)
Robinson et al. (2002) USA	Quasi‐experimental; one group before and after Large hospital, medical unit	68 patients (Int‐G n = 34; Cont‐G n = 34) Aged > 65 requiring assistance with feeding Intervention group mean age = 77.8 years Control group mean age = 78.2 years	Patients feed by Memorial Meal Mates volunteers (number of meals observed not specified) Number of volunteers = 19 Type—college students (79%)	Standard care (data retrospectively matched before intervention)	Estimation of % of entire tray (food and fluids) (observation)
Walton et al. (2008) Australia	Quasi‐experimental; matched before and after Public suburban hospital, 1 aged care ward	9 patients Age = 89 ± 4.6 years	Volunteer feeding assistance during lunchtime weekdays (data recorded at lunchtime on two weekdays) Int: Assisting including meal tray set‐up, encouragement and general conversation Number of volunteers = 25 Type—no information provided	Standard care (data recorded at lunchtime on two weekend days)	Avg. protein and energy intake (observations and weighed plate) Intake as a % of daily requirement (Schofield equation)
Wong et al. (2008) New Zealand	Quasi‐experimental; matched before and after Short stay assessment, treatment and rehabilitation unit for older people with cognitive impairment	7 patients (Intervention) Age = 77.0 ± 6.5 years Dementia	Phase 3—maximising food and fluid intake by feeding assistance at lunchtime (12 weeks) (number of meals observed not specified) Int: assist semi‐dependent eaters at mealtimes Number of volunteers = No information provided Type—no information provided	Phase 1—observation Phase 2—encouraging dietary grazing Phase 4—improving dining atmosphere (each phase was 12 weeks)	Body mass index Anthropometry Avg. energy intake (observation and plate wastage)
Wright et al. (2008) UK	Quasi‐experimental; one group before and after Hospital, several wards	46 patients (Int‐G n = 16; Cont‐G n = 30) Aged ˃65 years diagnosed with dysphagia Int‐G prescribed a textured‐modified diet and thickened fluids Int‐G Age = 79.1 ± 11.2 years Cont‐G—prescribed texture‐modified diets and ˃60 years Cont‐G Age = 81.8 ± 8.7 years	Targeting feeding assistance from 8:00–16:00 (data recorded over a 24‐hr period, avg. of 3 days) Int: Assisting included cutting, meal tray set‐up, opening packages, encouragement and general conversation Number of volunteers = 3 Type—HP Student (100%)	Standard care (data retrospectively recorded before intervention—in a separate study)	Avg. protein and energy intake (Observation) Intake as a % of daily requirement (Schofield equation)