Factors associated with non-urgent visits to the emergency department in a tertiary care centre, western Saudi Arabia: cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore magnitude and factors associated with non-urgent visits to the emergency department (ED) in a tertiary care centre, western Saudi Arabia.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

ED of a tertiary care hospital in western Saudi Arabia.

Participants

400 patients, both men and women.

Interventions

An interview-based questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of patients who visited the ED during morning shifts, where primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and outpatient clinics were available.

Primary outcome measure

ED visits classified as non-urgent versus urgent (excluding life-threatening conditions) based on the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). Levels IV and V were classified as non-urgent.

Results

Majo

SUBMITTER: Al-Otmy SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7539577 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature