Developing an Australian health and aged care research agenda: A systematic review of evidence at the subacute interface

Objective. The aim of the present study was to systematically review articles describing recent interventions that
aimed to improve access and outcomes for older people at the interface between health and aged care, with a focus on subacute
care programs of palliative care, rehabilitation, geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) and psychogeriatrics.
Methods. Australian studies published between 2008 and 2013were evaluated using the Preferred Reporting Items
for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
(NHMRC) guidelines. Included studies were summarised according to focus areas and results discussed in the current
Australian subacute health care context.
Results. Eleven Australian research articles were identified. Three did not achieve any NHMRC rating level because
of methodological approach. Focus areas included: discharge planning; information management or communication;
rehabilitation; hospital treatment in residential care; screening and intervention; and Telehealth. Interventions were primarily
system centred; only three studies featured patient-level outcome measures.
Conclusions. There is limited high-quality research investigating the effectiveness of interventions at the health
and aged care interface of subacute care. Further research is needed.