A Scoping Literature Review of Safety in Homecare for Clients, Family Members, Unpaid Caregivers and Paid Providers

The demand for home care services is increasing in this country. Patient safety in health care is a pressing concern. Most of what is written about patient safety comes from hospital settings. In 2006 the Canadian Patient Safety Institute commissioned a round table on safety in home care. Results from the round table revealed little literature existed regarding safety in home care, and that the context of the home is much different than that of the hospital. In 2007 CPSI convened this Canadian team of researchers and decision makers to focus on safety in home care. The team initiated a literature review in three domains of home care; end of life care, caregivers, and chronic disease management, and recommended an expanded review. Identifying safety related issues in home care will enable the development of relevant interventions as well as areas where knowledge is needed. The team is proposing a scoping review of the home care literature in multiple domains including but not limited to quality, best practice, technology, literacy, children, pharmaceuticals, chemotherapy, complementary therapies, renal failure, heart failure, COPD, dementia, and stroke. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to take a broad look at the home care literature to identify gaps in knowledge and issues related to safety in home care that are relevant and have meaning for clients, caregivers, families and providers