Journal
JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES & RESEARCH
Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages 259-273Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11414-020-09695-4
Keywords
Emergency department utilization; Frequent use; Overcrowding; Mental health; Predictors
Categories
Funding
- Fonds de la recherche en sante du Quebec (FRSQ)
- l'Institut Universitaire sur les Dependances du Quebec (Addiction University Institute)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study found that mental health issues, particularly schizophrenia and personality disorders, were the main reasons for frequent emergency department utilization among patients. Increasing integration of mental health services in networks could help reduce unnecessary use of emergency departments and overcrowding.
Overcrowding in emergency departments (ED) jeopardizes quality and access to health care, which represents a major issue for service delivery. This study determined predictors of frequent ED utilization among 320 patients recruited from six hospital ED in Quebec (Canada). Data collection included patient interviews and administrative databanks. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed using the Andersen Behavioral Model as a framework, with variables organized into predisposing, enabling, and needs factors. Results showed that needs factors were most strongly associated with ED utilization, particularly schizophrenia and personality disorders. Predisposing and enabling factors each contributed one variable to the model: past hospitalization for Mental Health (MH) reasons, and having regular care from an outpatient psychiatrist over the 12 months prior to interview at the ED, respectively. Increasing integration of MH services in networks may reduce unnecessary ED utilization and overcrowding, while providing better accessibility and care continuity for patients who visit ED for MH reasons.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available