Blacks 35 Percent More Likely To Leave Hospitals Against Medical Advice

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 30 Oct 2007 - 16:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Approximately one in 70 hospital discharges are against medical advice.

Researchers utilized the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Health Care Cost and Utilization Project to examine hospital- and patient-related factors associated with discharge against medical advice. Patients discharged against medical advice were generally younger in age, male and of low socioeconomic status. When compared with white patients, blacks had a 35 percent higher risk of discharge against medical advice, whereas Hispanics had a 10 percent lower risk. The primary diagnostic category associated with self-discharge was mental health disorder.

"Understanding the characteristics of patients who leave the hospital against medical advice and gaining insight into their reasons are important because resource allocation, delivery of medical care, and quality of care are affected," the study's authors said. "Higher rates of discharges against medical advice in general or in special populations (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities) may signify shortcomings of the system that need to be addressed to improve quality of care for all patients." [From: "Factors Associated With Patients Who Leave Acute-Care Hospitals Against Medical Advice." Contact: Said A. Ibrahim, MD, MPH, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Administration Pittsburgh healthcare System, Pittsburgh, said.ibrahim2@va.gov .]

The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly journal of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the oldest organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA is a leading publisher of books and periodicals promoting sound scientific standards, action programs and public policy to enhance health.

American Journal of Public Health

• Additional
• References
• Citations