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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
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Hasan, O., Samad, M., Khan, H., Sarfraz, M., Noordin, S., Ahmad, T., Nowshad, G. (2019). Leaving Against Medical Advice From In-patients Departments Rate, Reasons and Predicting Risk Factors for Re-visiting Hospital Retrospective Cohort From a Tertiary Care Hospital. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(8), 474-479. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.26
Obada Hasan; Muhammad Adeel Samad; Hamza Khan; Maryam Sarfraz; Shahryar Noordin; Tashfeen Ahmad; Gul Nowshad. "Leaving Against Medical Advice From In-patients Departments Rate, Reasons and Predicting Risk Factors for Re-visiting Hospital Retrospective Cohort From a Tertiary Care Hospital". International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8, 8, 2019, 474-479. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.26
Hasan, O., Samad, M., Khan, H., Sarfraz, M., Noordin, S., Ahmad, T., Nowshad, G. (2019). 'Leaving Against Medical Advice From In-patients Departments Rate, Reasons and Predicting Risk Factors for Re-visiting Hospital Retrospective Cohort From a Tertiary Care Hospital', International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(8), pp. 474-479. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.26
Hasan, O., Samad, M., Khan, H., Sarfraz, M., Noordin, S., Ahmad, T., Nowshad, G. Leaving Against Medical Advice From In-patients Departments Rate, Reasons and Predicting Risk Factors for Re-visiting Hospital Retrospective Cohort From a Tertiary Care Hospital. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2019; 8(8): 474-479. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.26

Leaving Against Medical Advice From In-patients Departments Rate, Reasons and Predicting Risk Factors for Re-visiting Hospital Retrospective Cohort From a Tertiary Care Hospital

Article 3, Volume 8, Issue 8, August 2019, Page 474-479  XML PDF (492 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.26
Authors
Obada Hasan orcid 1; Muhammad Adeel Samad2; Hamza Khan3; Maryam Sarfraz4; Shahryar Noordin1; Tashfeen Ahmadorcid 1, 5; Gul Nowshad6
1Orthopedic Section, Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
2General Surgery Department, York Hospital, York, PA, USA
3General Surgery Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
4Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
5Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
6Pioneer Public Health Consultants (PPHCUSA), Houston, TX, USA
Abstract
Background
Approximately 1% to 2% of hospitalized patients get discharged or leave from the hospital against medical advice and up to 26% in some centers. They have higher readmission rate and risk of complications than patients who receive complete care. In this study we aimed to determine the rate of leave against medical advice (LAMA) and reasons for the same across different in-patient departments of a tertiary care hospital.

 
Methods
Retrospective cohort study on patients admitted in all departments at our institute over a 1-year period. All patients who were admitted to an in-patient ward at the hospital and who left against medical advice by submitting a duly filled LAMA form were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models with forward selection methods were employed. Revisit to hospital within 30 days; to clinic or emergency department was outcome variable for regression.

 
Results
From June 2015 to May 2016 there were 429 LAMA patients, accounting for 0.7% of total admissions. Females were 223 (52%) compared to males 206 (48%). Finances were quoted as the most common reason for LAMA by 174 (41%) patients followed by domestic problems 78 (18%). Internal medicine was the service with the highest number of LAMA patients ie, 153 (36%) followed by Pediatric medicine with 73 (17%). Of the 429 patients, 147 (34%) patients revisited the hospital within 30 days. Sixty-one percent of these ‘bounced-back’ LAMA patients had worsening or persistence of same problem, or new problem/s had developed. In unadjusted bivariate logistic model, patients who were advised for follow-up during discharge against medical advice were four times more likely to revisit the hospital. Patients who were married had an increased odd of revisiting the hospital.

 
Conclusion
Financial reasons are the most common stated reasons to LAMA. Patients who LAMA are at a high risk of clinical worsening and ‘bouncing back.’ This is the first study from our region on in-patient LAMA rates, to our knowledge. The results can be used for planning measures to reduce LAMA rates and its consequences.
Keywords
LAMA; DAMA; Morbidity; Developing Country
Main Subjects
Hospital Performance
References
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