OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine racial-ethnic and gender differences in return visits to emergency services among transition-age youths (aged 17 to 24 years) with mental health needs. METHODS: Data were from the California Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery Data. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of returning to an emergency department among youths who had a psychiatric diagnosis (N533,588). RESULTS: About 41% of the sample returned to the emergency department within a year. Compared with white males, the odds of returning were lower for Hispanic males (odds ratio [OR]5.89) and Asian males (OR5.59) and higher for white females (OR51.21), African- American females (OR51.49), Hispanic females (OR51.24), and Native American females (OR52.09). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat visits to emergency departments among transition age youths with psychiatric diagnoses may indicate limited access to or lack of high-quality care. The disparities indicate a need for culturally sensitive and gender-specific services for this vulnerable population.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine racial-ethnic and gender differences in return visits to emergency services among transition-age youths (aged 17 to 24 years) with mental health needs. METHODS: Data were from the California Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery Data. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of returning to an emergency department among youths who had a psychiatric diagnosis (N533,588). RESULTS: About 41% of the sample returned to the emergency department within a year. Compared with white males, the odds of returning were lower for Hispanic males (odds ratio [OR]5.89) and Asian males (OR5.59) and higher for white females (OR51.21), African- American females (OR51.49), Hispanic females (OR51.24), and Native American females (OR52.09). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat visits to emergency departments among transition age youths with psychiatric diagnoses may indicate limited access to or lack of high-quality care. The disparities indicate a need for culturally sensitive and gender-specific services for this vulnerable population.