Impact of COVID-19 on emergency department attendance in an Australia hospital: a parallel convergent mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people are accessing healthcare. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on emergency department (ED) attendance for frequent attenders and to explore potential reasons for changes in attendance.

Design

This convergent parallel mixed methods study comprised two parts.

Setting

An interrupted time-series analysis evaluated changes in ED presentation rates; interviews investigated reasons for changes for frequent ED users in a culturally and linguistically diverse setting.

Participants

A total of 4868 patients were included in the time series. A subgroup of 200 patients were interviewed, mean age 66 years (range 23-99).

Results

Interrupted time-series analysis from 4868 eligible partic

SUBMITTER: Jessup RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8718342 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature