Kunihiko Takahashi1, Hisateru Tachimori2, Chiemi Kan2, Daisuke Nishi2, Yasuyuki Okumura3, Naohiro Kato2, Tadashi Takeshima2,4. 1. Department of Biostatistics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. 2. Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Research Department, Institute for Health Economics and Policy, Association for Health Economics Research and Social Insurance and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Kawasaki City Mental Health and Welfare Center, Kawasaki, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of our study was to clarify the geographical movement of patients treated in psychiatric facilities, which can provide important information on the resources and health-care system of psychiatric services. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of nationwide data on psychiatric patients, collected as an additional survey to the conventional '630 survey' in 2014. For the 151 848 initially admitted inpatients during 6 months and the 144 401 outpatients on a specific day, we identified whether a patient was admitted to a psychiatric facility located in the same medical area as his/her residence. We estimated percentages of being from (i) within the medical area, (ii) within the prefecture, and (iii) outside the prefecture, using a Bayesian statistical approach for each secondary medical area. RESULTS: The inpatients moved across wider areas than did the outpatients. Almost all inpatients and outpatients received their medical treatment at hospitals/clinics within their prefecture of residence. CONCLUSION: The current mental health medical system in Japan has been operating according to prefecture unit; thus, it may be appropriate to plan a medical system at a prefectural level.
AIM: The aim of our study was to clarify the geographical movement of patients treated in psychiatric facilities, which can provide important information on the resources and health-care system of psychiatric services. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of nationwide data on psychiatricpatients, collected as an additional survey to the conventional '630 survey' in 2014. For the 151 848 initially admitted inpatients during 6 months and the 144 401 outpatients on a specific day, we identified whether a patient was admitted to a psychiatric facility located in the same medical area as his/her residence. We estimated percentages of being from (i) within the medical area, (ii) within the prefecture, and (iii) outside the prefecture, using a Bayesian statistical approach for each secondary medical area. RESULTS: The inpatients moved across wider areas than did the outpatients. Almost all inpatients and outpatients received their medical treatment at hospitals/clinics within their prefecture of residence. CONCLUSION: The current mental health medical system in Japan has been operating according to prefecture unit; thus, it may be appropriate to plan a medical system at a prefectural level.
Authors: A Ghenassia; J B Beuscart; G Ficheur; F Occelli; E Babykina; E Chazard; M Genin Journal: Int J Health Geogr Date: 2017-10-03 Impact factor: 3.918