Julie Considine1, Debra Berry2, Bodil Rasmussen3, Alison M Hutchinson4, Helen Rawson5, Peter Jordan6, Maryann Street7. 1. Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; Eastern Health, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Level 2, 5 Arnold Street, Box Hill 3128, Australia. Electronic address: julie.considine@deakin.edu.au. 2. Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; Eastern Health, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Level 2, 5 Arnold Street, Box Hill 3128, Australia. Electronic address: debra.berry1@deakin.edu.au. 3. Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; Western Health, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Western Health Partnership, 176 Furlong Road, Sunshine, St Albans 3021, Australia. Electronic address: bodil.rasmussen@deakin.edu.au. 4. Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; Monash Health, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Monash Health Partnership, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168, Australia. Electronic address: alison.hutchinson@deakin.edu.au. 5. Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; Monash Health, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Monash Health Partnership, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168, Australia. Electronic address: Helen.Rawson@monash.edu. 6. Eastern Health, Emergency Services, 8 Arnold Street, Box Hill 3128, Australia. Electronic address: peter.jordan@easternhealth.org.au. 7. Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; Eastern Health, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Level 2, 5 Arnold Street, Box Hill 3128, Australia. Electronic address: maryann.street@deakin.edu.au.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Older people are frequent emergency department (ED) users, a vulnerable population and often have long stays in the ED. The aim of this study was to determine whether ED length of stay (LOS) had an impact on older people's (aged ≥65 years) anxiety, comfort and adverse events. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia. Patients (n = 301) from three EDs were classified by ED LOS: ≤4-hours (n = 89), 4-8 h (n = 136) and >8-hours (n = 76). Current state and trait anxiety and comfort were measured in ED. Adverse event data were collected from medical records. LOS groups were compared using Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in Trait Anxiety Scores. Patients with ED LOS ≤ 4-hours had lower median State Anxiety Scores (p = 0.003), were less likely to require ward admission (p < 0.001), and more likely to require short stay unit admission (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups in comfort or adverse events during ED care or hospitalisation (for admitted patients). CONCLUSION: The impact of ED LOS on the anxiety of older ED users appears limited. There was no association identified between ED LOS and comfort during ED care or adverse events during ED care or hospitalisation.
INTRODUCTION: Older people are frequent emergency department (ED) users, a vulnerable population and often have long stays in the ED. The aim of this study was to determine whether ED length of stay (LOS) had an impact on older people's (aged ≥65 years) anxiety, comfort and adverse events. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia. Patients (n = 301) from three EDs were classified by ED LOS: ≤4-hours (n = 89), 4-8 h (n = 136) and >8-hours (n = 76). Current state and trait anxiety and comfort were measured in ED. Adverse event data were collected from medical records. LOS groups were compared using Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in Trait Anxiety Scores. Patients with ED LOS ≤ 4-hours had lower median State Anxiety Scores (p = 0.003), were less likely to require ward admission (p < 0.001), and more likely to require short stay unit admission (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups in comfort or adverse events during ED care or hospitalisation (for admitted patients). CONCLUSION: The impact of ED LOS on the anxiety of older ED users appears limited. There was no association identified between ED LOS and comfort during ED care or adverse events during ED care or hospitalisation.
Authors: James David van Oppen; Timothy John Coats; Simon Paul Conroy; Jagruti Lalseta; Kay Phelps; Emma Regen; Peter Riley; Jose Maria Valderas; Nicola Mackintosh Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2022-02-25 Impact factor: 3.921