Quantification of factors contributing to length of stay in an acutepsychogeriatric ward
B. Draper
Bok Engelsk 1998
| Utgitt | 1998
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| Omfang | 7 s.
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| Opplysninger | Objective. To identify variables that predict length of stay (LOS) in an acute psychogeriatric ward; quantify psychiatric, medical and social factors that contribute to LOS; and identify factors thatprolong LOS.Design. Prospective audit of admissions over 12 months.Setting. Acute psychogeriatric ward in teaching hospital.Patients. 73 consecutive patients with a total of 88 admissions.Main outcome measures. Main psychiatric, medical and social reasonsfor admission; Physical Health Schema; total LOS; number of daysattributable to psychiatric, medical, social and treatment (non-response and adverse reactions) reasons; DSM-IV diagnosis; globalclinical outcome; discharge living arrangements; dischargepsychotropic medication.Main results. Presence of depressive symptoms was the most commonpsychiatric reason for admission and carer stress the main socialreason for admission. Principal diagnosis of major depression andcarer stress were significant predictors of LOS and accounted for24.3% of the variance (p < 0.0001). Physical health and psychiatriccomorbidity were not able to predict LOS. The proportion ofpsychiatric, medical and social reasons involved in LOS variedsignificantly by principal diagnosis (p < 0.001). Almost 42% of beddays were attributable to delays-for medical, social leg placementproblems), treatment (adverse events, non-response) or hospitalsystem reasons.Conclusions. The quantification of factors contributing to LOS in anacute psychogeriatric unit allows for more accurate identification ofissues that can be addressed to improve the efficiency of bedutilization. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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| Emner |
