Clinical trial in seniors shows shift in health care usage

A small clinical trial in Canada shows promise that an intervention that includes volunteers visiting the home of elderly patients could reduce hospitalization for patients. Here’s what else you need to know:

• The study: Two groups of roughly 150 people each were enrolled in the study. The intervention included more regular checkups by volunteers, who also helped come up with goals such as increased physical activity and more social connection.
• The results: Overall, there was no significant difference between the two groups when it came to attaining the goals that were set, although there was a statistically significant increase in the time that the intervention group spent walking per week — more than an hour — compared to the control group.
• The takeaway: Although people in the intervention group visited primary care more often, they also had fewer hospitalizations. These results suggest that home visits and other preventive care could help patients benefit from early care in their doctors’ offices rather than later treatment in a hospital.