Rationale: In Canada, home care clients are a large and expanding subgroup of medically complex older adults with relatively poor access to effective chronic disease management. They have double the emergency department utilization rate compared to nursing home residents or other older populations. The investigators previously published a case-finding tool (the Detection of Indicators and Vulnerabilities for Emergency Room Trips (DIVERT) Scale) that has been recommended for chronic disease management case-finding in home care. The investigators recently conducted a pilot trial in Niagara, Canada, of a targeted, person-centered model of supportive cardio-respiratory disease management. Objectives: The investigators will evaluate a cardio-respiratory disease management model in home care to manage symptoms and avoid emergency department use. A pan-Canadian, pragmatic cluster-randomized trial will be conducted by a collaboration of trial investigators and public home care providers (i.e., health regions). The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness and preliminary cost-effectiveness of a targeted, person-centered cardio-respiratory management model. The main question is: P: Among home care clients experiencing cardio-respiratory symptoms (objectively targeted using the DIVERT Scale), I: can a guideline-based, feasible, multi-component/complex, cardio-respiratory management model, C: compared to regular care, O: reduce cardio-respiratory symptoms, reduce/postpone unplanned emergency department (ED) visits, reduce unplanned hospital use, improve patient activation, or improve health-related quality of life for clients, T: over a 6-month follow-up period from baseline?
Age range
19 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
The difference in days to first unplanned emergency department visit (hazard rate)
Timeframe: Up to six months from baseline
The difference in total care costs controlling for length of stay
Timeframe: Up to six months from baseline
Changes in patient activation (patient activation questionnaire)
Timeframe: Baseline, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months
The difference in the number of symptoms
Timeframe: Baseline, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months