Feras H Abuzeyad1, Moonis Farooq2, Salah Farhat Alam2, Mudhaffar Ismael Ibrahim2, Luma Bashmi3, Shaikha Sami Aljawder2, Najeh Ellouze2, Abdulla Almusalam3, Stephanie Hsu3, Priya Das3. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, King Hamad University Hospital, Building 2345, Road 2835, Block 228, P. O. Box 24343, Busaiteen, Kingdom of Bahrain. feras.abuzeyad@khuh.org.bh. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, King Hamad University Hospital, Building 2345, Road 2835, Block 228, P. O. Box 24343, Busaiteen, Kingdom of Bahrain. 3. Department of Scientific Research & Development, King Hamad University Hospital, Building 2345, Road 2835, Block 228, P. O. Box 24343, Busaiteen, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients discharged against medical advice (DAMA) act as a high-risk population for the Emergency Department (ED), regardless of their presentations, and can pose a serious burden for the hospital. This study examines the prevalence, demographic and clinical characteristics, reasons, and clinical outcomes of a small sample of DAMA patients in a teaching university hospital, including readmission, morbidity, and mortality. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the ED of King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) with 98,992 patient visits during a 1-year period from June 2018 to June 2019. Consenting DAMA patients were asked to complete a data collection form. RESULTS: Patients (n = 413) had a mean age of 44.1 years with a female majority (57.1%). The majority were categorized as triage level-3 (87.7%). The main reasons for DAMA included refusal of the procedure/operation (23.2%), long ED waiting time (22.2%), subjective improvement with treatment (17.7%), and children at home (14.8%), whereas the least selected reason was dissatisfaction with medical care (1.2%). Follow-up of DAMA patients revealed that 86 cases (20.8%) were readmitted to the ED within 72 h of which 41 (47.7%) cases were morbidity and 2 (2.3%) were mortality. Marital status was a predictor of DAMA patients who revisit the ED within 72 h. CONCLUSION: The results act as a pilot study to examine a small sample of DAMA patients' characteristics, diagnosis, and ED revisits. Hospitals should investigate further the DAMA population on a larger scale, reasons for refusing procedures, and utilize this knowledge to improve the healthcare process.
BACKGROUND:Patients discharged against medical advice (DAMA) act as a high-risk population for the Emergency Department (ED), regardless of their presentations, and can pose a serious burden for the hospital. This study examines the prevalence, demographic and clinical characteristics, reasons, and clinical outcomes of a small sample of DAMA patients in a teaching university hospital, including readmission, morbidity, and mortality. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the ED of King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) with 98,992 patient visits during a 1-year period from June 2018 to June 2019. Consenting DAMA patients were asked to complete a data collection form. RESULTS:Patients (n = 413) had a mean age of 44.1 years with a female majority (57.1%). The majority were categorized as triage level-3 (87.7%). The main reasons for DAMA included refusal of the procedure/operation (23.2%), long ED waiting time (22.2%), subjective improvement with treatment (17.7%), and children at home (14.8%), whereas the least selected reason was dissatisfaction with medical care (1.2%). Follow-up of DAMA patients revealed that 86 cases (20.8%) were readmitted to the ED within 72 h of which 41 (47.7%) cases were morbidity and 2 (2.3%) were mortality. Marital status was a predictor of DAMA patients who revisit the ED within 72 h. CONCLUSION: The results act as a pilot study to examine a small sample of DAMA patients' characteristics, diagnosis, and ED revisits. Hospitals should investigate further the DAMA population on a larger scale, reasons for refusing procedures, and utilize this knowledge to improve the healthcare process.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bahrain; DAMA; Discharge against medical advice; Emergency medicine; Middle East
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