Inappropriate use of the emergency department for nonurgent conditions: Patient characteristics and associated factors at a Japanese hospital.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the primary factors associated with inappropriate out-of-hours emergency department (ED) use by patients with nonurgent conditions.

Methods

We compared patients with nonurgent conditions who made inappropriate, out-of-hours ED visits to patients who visited an acute care hospital during daytime consultation hours between May 30 and October 16, 2014, in terms of patient characteristics and reasons for consultation. Our goal was to identify factors associated with inappropriate ED use, defined as an out-of-hours, nonurgent, and unnecessary visits.

Results

We analyzed data from 84 patients who made inappropriate use of out-of-hours emergency care and 147 patients who sought care during regular consultation hours. In

SUBMITTER: Miyazawa A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6612776 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature