OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine elderly patients' preference regarding home versus hospital as the site of treatment of their medical illnesses. 2) To formulate guidelines at the VMMC out patient department on home care.
DESIGN: Descriptive study (survey).
PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty elderly patients seen at the VMMC out patient department, 65-82 years of age, diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF) and pneumonia from September 2001 to July 2002.
INTERVENTION: Questionnaires consisting of a sequence of items were administered to the subjects seen at the out patient department, prompting participants to provide specific preference of care received in the home versus a hospital setting.
RESULTS: Of a total of 150 patients included in this study, 114 patients (76 percent) felt safer being treated in the hospital than at home. One hundred and twenty four patients (82.7 percent) reported that clinical recovery was faster in the hospital. One hundred patients (66.7 percent) believe that home treatment would consequently result in complications. One hundred and twenty four (82.7 percent) think that the promptness of an emergency response is delayed in the home.
CONCLUSION: This study shows that the elderly patients prefer the hospital rather than the home as the site of treatment of their medical illnesses.