Table 1.

Characteristics of the included studies.

Study/Country	Disease	Intervention—Homecare	Comparison—Hospital	Sampling	Age Range	Funding
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Cohen et al. [16]/ UK	Recurrent or drug-resistant tuberculosis	Participants received home-based care from guardians trained to deliver intramuscular streptomycin.	Participants were admitted to the hospital for 60 days.	205	30–44	Public/Non-profit
Diseases of the circulatory system
Kalra et al. [17]/UK	Disabling stroke	Patients were managed in their own homes and care was provided by a specialist team (doctor, nurse and therapists), with support from district nursing and social services for nursing and personal care needs. Patients were under the joint care of the stroke physician and the GP. Each patient had an individualized, integrated care pathway outlining activities and the objectives of treatment, which were reviewed at weekly multidisciplinary meetings. This support was provided for a maximum of 3 months.	The stroke unit provided 24-h care delivered by a specialist multidisciplinary team based on clear guidelines for acute care, the prevention of complications, rehabilitation and secondary prevention. The stroke team involved management on general wards with specialist team support. The team undertook stroke assessments and advised ward-based nursing and therapy staff on acute care, secondary prevention and rehabilitation aspects.	457	67–84	Public/Non-profit
Patel et al. [27]/Sweden	Chronic heart failure	Patients are visited at home daily or on alternate days by the specialist nurse as determined by the patient’s health status. Home visits were terminated when a patient: (1) was symptomatically stable or improving; (2) had stable or falling weight; (3) had no signs of pulmonary rales; and (4) had no edema above the ankle.	The patients were treated in accordance with hospital treatment guidelines.	31	67–87	NA
Ricauda et al. [28]/Italy	First acute ischemic stroke	Patients received a HC program that emphasized a task- and context-oriented approach, which recommends that the patient perform guided, supervised and self-directed activities in a functional and familiar context. The standard daily intervention consisted of one visit by a physician, a nurse and a physical therapist.	The inpatient group received routine hospital rehabilitation services, which allocated physical therapists to patients assigned to both groups of the trial.	120	74–89	None
Taylor et al. [18]/ UK	Uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction	Patients were seen during hospital admission by a cardiac rehabilitation nurse and issued the Heart Manual to use over six consecutive weeks.	Patients attended outpatient classes once a week for 8–10 weeks. Classes lasted 2 h each and were conducted in groups of 8–10 people at the local hospital or, for a small number of patients, in one of the two community centers.	104	51–76	Public/Non-profit
Diseases of the respiratory system
Cox et al. [19]/UK	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	The intervention consisted of eight exercises (adapted to each participant’s capability). Four sessions over two weeks were delivered by a physiotherapist in the patient’s home.	A cycle ergometer was used to deliver exercises at hospital bedside. The prescription (cycle workload) was set by a physiotherapist. The patient completed 16 revolutions of the bike for both sets of limbs, three times a day for 5 consecutive days.	58	55–79	Public/Non-profit
Goossens et al. [24]/The Netherlands	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	For the first three days, all patients received usual hospital care. Starting on the fourth day, community nurses visited and provided care at least once or up to three times on the day of discharge and over the following three days. During the four days of home treatment, the emphasis was on recovering from exacerbation of symptoms.	Usual hospital care	139	57–79	Public/Non-profit
van den Biggelaar et al. [25]/The Netherlands	Neuromuscular disease or thoracic cage disorder	Patients received mechanical ventilation at home.	Patients started home mechanical ventilation in the hospital.	96	42–70	Public/Non-profit
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
Jafary et al. [29]/Iran	Diabetic foot ulcers	Treatment was performed according to the clinical guidelines approved by Iran’s Ministry of Health. The home visit team consisted of a GP and 3 nurses. Following the initial home visit, additional home visits were conducted at least once a week. Patients could contact the HC providers when the need arose.	Conventional care at the hospital.	120	48–73	NA
Multiple health conditions
Coast et al. [20]/UK	Hospitalized but medically stable elderly patients	Patients able to receive early discharge from the hospital were allocated to home-based rehabilitative care provided by a multi-professional team (nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and support workers).	Patients received routine hospital care with discharge at the usual time.	241	72–84	Public/Non-profit
Jones et al. [21]/UK	Mix of medical conditions	A GP maintained medical responsibility for 14 days. Multidisciplinary care (nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, generic healthcare workers and cultural link worker) provided between four and 24 h of care per day. They provided access to equipment needed for home nursing such as hospital beds, mattresses, commodes, etc.	Acute hospital admission.	199	77–89	Public/Non-profit
Shepperd et al. [22]/UK	Mix of medical conditions	Care consisted of observation, the administration of (intravenous) drugs, nursing care (in addition to support from other professionals) 24 h a day in the patient’s home if necessary and the rehabilitation of patients at home.	Inpatient hospital care: patients recovering from a hip replacement, a knee replacement, or a hysterectomy; patients with chronic obstructive airway disease; and elderly patients with a mix of medical conditions.	242	58–76	Public/Non-profit
Singh et al. [23]/UK	Acute inpatient hospital care	The HC was based on an evaluation of CGA services received previously in the hospital and subsequently being provided at home.	An inpatient care group received CGA services.	1055	76–90	Public/Non-profit
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
Birnie et al. [26]/ The Netherlands	High-risk pregnancies	A midwife performed a daily visit, conducted a cardiotocography and transmitted the tracings to the hospital. Women were seen weekly at the antenatal clinic.	Women were hospitalized and monitored daily. If necessary, they received additional diagnostics or treatment.	150	24–37	Public/Non-profit

CGA: comprehensive geriatric assessment; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GP: general practitioner; HC: homecare; NA: not applicable.