OBJECTIVE: Direct illness costs in psychiatry are strongly related to the length of in-patient stay (LOS). Prior studies have shown that LOS depends upon many factors; however, there is no systematic work on their interrelation and relative contribution. METHOD: A detailed statistical analysis of the factors explaining LOS for n = 4,706 consecutive admissions (1994-97) to the psychiatric hospital of the University of Tübingen is presented. RESULTS: The distribution of LOS follows an exponential decay function, suggesting a hazard-based process. Cox regression indicates that the incidence of discharge and hence LOS is modulated by a number of illness-related and other factors, and their relationship is explored. CONCLUSION: While a linear model is commonly assumed, LOS in psychiatry is governed by a hazard-based process. As a tool in quality management, LOS data for psychiatric hospitals might be routinely analyzed and the effects of non-illness-related factors minimized.
OBJECTIVE: Direct illness costs in psychiatry are strongly related to the length of in-patient stay (LOS). Prior studies have shown that LOS depends upon many factors; however, there is no systematic work on their interrelation and relative contribution. METHOD: A detailed statistical analysis of the factors explaining LOS for n = 4,706 consecutive admissions (1994-97) to the psychiatric hospital of the University of Tübingen is presented. RESULTS: The distribution of LOS follows an exponential decay function, suggesting a hazard-based process. Cox regression indicates that the incidence of discharge and hence LOS is modulated by a number of illness-related and other factors, and their relationship is explored. CONCLUSION: While a linear model is commonly assumed, LOS in psychiatry is governed by a hazard-based process. As a tool in quality management, LOS data for psychiatric hospitals might be routinely analyzed and the effects of non-illness-related factors minimized.
Authors: Joshua D Clapp; Anouk L Grubaugh; Jon G Allen; Jane Mahoney; John M Oldham; J Christopher Fowler; Tom Ellis; Jon D Elhai; B Christopher Frueh Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Antonella Gigantesco; Giovanni de Girolamo; Giovanni Santone; Rossella Miglio; Angelo Picardi Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-08-22 Impact factor: 3.295