This study aimed to assess patient preferences for various models of community-based care for older people, focusing on the location of care, frequency, and type of principal carer. Conducted through face-to-face interviews with 77 patients recently discharged from hospital and receiving short-term care at home, we used a discrete choice experiment to evaluate preferences for different care packages.
Results showed that patients strongly preferred home care over outpatient, hospital, or nursing home care, although this preference was less pronounced among less sick patients. Patients also preferred less frequent care contacts and showed no universal preference for a specific professional carer background, though sick patients favored nurse-led care.
These findings provide valuable insights for service providers to design care models that align with patient preferences and manage resources effectively.
Reference: Dixon S, Enderby P, Nancarrow S, Moran A and Stuart P. (2013) Health Expectations, 10.1111, hex.12096