biostudies-literatureChen HNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)The NIHR Policy Research Programme163https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10835828biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)<h4>Background</h4>Hospital at Home (HaH) provides intensive, hospital-level care in patients' homes for acute conditions that would normally require hospitalisation, using multidisciplinary teams. As a programme of complex medical-social interventions, a HaH programme theory has not been fully articulated although implicit in the structures, functions, and activities of the existing HaH services. We aimed to unearth the tacit theory from international evidence and test the soundness of it by studying UK HaH services.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a literature review (29 articles) adopting a 'realist review' approach (theory articulation) and examined 11 UK-based services by interviewing up to 3 staff members from each service (theory testing). The review and interview data were analysed usiBMC health services researchAn integrated understanding of the impact of hospital at home: a mixed-methods study to articulate and test a programme theory.PMC10835828NIHR202691Lasserson DSkrybant MChen HIgnatowicz AfalseAn integrated understanding of the impact of hospital at home: a mixed-methods study to articulate and test a programme theory.<h4>Background</h4>Hospital at Home (HaH) provides intensive, hospital-level care in patients' homes for acute conditions that would normally require hospitalisation, using multidisciplinary teams. As a programme of complex medical-social interventions, a HaH programme theory has not been fully articulated although implicit in the structures, functions, and activities of the existing HaH services. We aimed to unearth the tacit theory from international evidence and test the soundness of it by studying UK HaH services.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a literature review (29 articles) adopting a 'realist review' approach (theory articulation) and examined 11 UK-based services by interviewing up to 3 staff members from each service (theory testing). The review and interview data were analysed usi2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Feb2026-07-14T19:01:29.664Z2026-06-22T03:12:21.51ZS-EPMC108358283830830410.1186/s12913-024-10619-7