Telehomecare significantly reduced the probability of hospitalizations and ED visits compared to control at 60 days, but this difference was not statistically significant at 120 days.
RCT (n=284)
Does telehomecare reduce hospitalization, ED use, mortality, and symptoms in patients with heart failure?
Telehomecare significantly reduces short-term (60-day) hospitalizations and ED visits and improves symptoms in heart failure patients, though healthcare utilization benefits may attenuate by 120 days.
The purpose of this randomized field study was to determine the effects of telehomecare on hospitalization, emergency department (ED) use, mortality, and symptoms related to sodium and fluid intake, medication use, and physical activity. The sample consists of 284 patients with heart failure. The authors used logistic regression to study the effects of telehomecare on health services utilization and mortality and a general linear model to analyze changes in self-reported symptoms. On average, patients in the telehomecare groups had a lower probability of hospitalizations and ED visits than did patients in the control group. Differences were statistically significant at 60 days but not 120 days. Results show a greater reduction in symptoms for patients using telehomecare compared to control patients. The technology enables frequent monitoring of clinical indices and permits the home health care nurse to detect changes in cardiac status and intervene when necessary.
Dansky et al. (Thu,) conducted a rct in Heart failure (n=284). Telehomecare vs. Control was evaluated on Hospitalization, emergency department (ED) use, mortality, and symptoms. Telehomecare significantly reduced the probability of hospitalizations and ED visits compared to control at 60 days, but this difference was not statistically significant at 120 days.
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