HOME FIRST Pilot: a Study of Early Supported Discharge in Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

HOMEFIRST patients receive monitoring and review of; vital signs, symptoms, mental state, nutrition and hydration, urine output, skin turgor and integrity, mobility, coping ability, medication concordance, smoking and nutrition and hydration. Individualised verbal and written self-management plans, a list of symptoms (including red flag symptoms) to prompt contact with the study team and a 24hr emergency contact number are provided. Clinical bloods and other investigations will be taken/requested as necessary. Questionnaires will be completed as follows; SF-12 - at recruitment and 6 weeks, CAP-SYM - at recruitment and 6 weeks. Satisfaction questionnaires are conducted over the telephone at 2 wks by an independent assessor. As part of usual clinical practice patients will have bloods and radiology requested as required.

"No research investigations will occur except for questionnaires; as part of usual clinical practice patients will have bloods and radiology requested as desired by their usual clinical team.~SF-12 (physical and mental function) \[performed twice in total\] - at recruitment (day 0) and 6 weeks~CAP-SYM \[performed 3 times in total\] - at recruitment day 0 (twice including day minus 30) and 6 weeks~Patient (and carer/consultee) satisfaction - conducted over the telephone at 2 wks by an independent assessor."