How far is too far? A nationwide cross-sectional study for establishing optimal hospital access time for Korean pregnant women.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Access to a delivery unit is a major factor in determining maternal morbidity and mortality. However, there is little information about the optimal access time to a delivery unit. This study aimed to establish the optimal hospital access time (OHAT) for pregnant women in South Korea. DESIGN:Nationwide cross-sectional study. SETTING:We used the National Health Insurance System database of South Korea. PARTICIPANTS:We analysed the data of 371 341 women who had experienced pregnancy in 2013. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:Access time to hospital was defined as the time required to travel from the patient's home to the delivery unit. The incidence of obstetric complications was plotted against the access time to hospital. Change-point analysis was performed to identify the O

SUBMITTER: Kwak MY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6756354 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature