Proactive Health Support: a randomised controlled trial of telephone-based self-management support for persons at risk of hospital admission

Kirstine Skov Benthien; Knud Rasmussen; Camilla Palmhøj Nielsen; Kristian Kidholm; Mette Grønkjær; Ulla Toft

Background

Persons with frequent hospital admissions have a disease burden that may exceed their self-management skills. The evidence base of telephone-based interventions to support self-management is poor with mixed results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Proactive Health Support (PaHS): telephone-based self-management support for persons with risk of hospitalizations.

Methods

This study is a national randomised controlled trial of PaHS versus usual universal tax-funded healthcare. Participants were persons at risk of emergency hospital admissions. The intervention began with a physical start-up session followed by telephone sessions of self-management support. The two co-primary outcomes were Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) (Mental Health Component Summary Score of SF36v2) analysed with mixed models and hospital admissions analysed with Poisson regression at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were at 3- and 12-month follow-up and disease subgroup analyses.

Results

During the study period, 6,402 persons were randomised (3,190 intervention, 3,212 control). HRQoL was significantly improved at 6 months (Est. 1.4992, P = <0.0001) and at 3 and 12 months on all 10 scales. There was no overall effect on hospital admissions at 6 months with an adjusted estimate of 0.0074 (P = 0.8691). Persons with diabetes had significant improvement of HRQoL and reduced hospital admissions.

Conclusions

The PaHS intervention improved HRQoL for all participants and reduced hospital admissions for persons with diabetes only.

Link til projektet bag publikationen

Proactive Health Support: a randomised controlled trial of telephone-based self-management support for persons at risk of hospital admission

Udgivelsesform Videnskabelige artikler
År 2022
Udgiver Age and Aging