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Factors associated with discharge against medical advice in alcohol withdrawal patients

Coleman, Rachel, Coulton, Simon, Phillips, Thomas (2023) Factors associated with discharge against medical advice in alcohol withdrawal patients. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 58 (5). pp. 561-564. ISSN 0735-0414. E-ISSN 1464-3502. (doi:10.1093/alcalc/agad047) (KAR id:102085)

Abstract

This study aimed to examine characteristics associated with discharge against medical advice from the hospital in alcohol withdrawal patients, supporting the work of hospital staff and Alcohol Care Teams and identifying characteristics that may help target patients most likely to discharge against medical advice. We used Hospital Episode Statistics Data to identify demographic and clinical variables and compare these in alcohol withdrawal patients who discharged against medical advice from hospital, compared with those who were discharged by the clinical team. Factors significantly associated with alcohol withdrawal patients discharging against medical advice from hospital were: being admitted as an emergency; discharged on a weekend; living with no fixed abode; being male; being younger and having a shorter length of stay. This study identifies characteristics that can be used to support acute hospitals and Alcohol Care Teams, particularly in the allocation of resources to reduce discharges against medical advice and subsequent readmissions to the hospital. Particular consideration should be given to clinical provision in hospitals in emergency departments and on weekends, and also those patients who are admitted and are of no fixed abode.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/alcalc/agad047
Uncontrolled keywords: alcohol withdrawal, discharge against medical advice, DAMA
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Funders: University of Hull (https://ror.org/04nkhwh30)
University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Simon Coulton
Date Deposited: 14 Jul 2023 12:34 UTC
Last Modified: 14 Jul 2024 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/102085 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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