Opoku Samuel T, Apenteng Bettye A, Akowuah Emmanuel A, Bhuyan Soumitra
Department of Health Policy and Management Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8015, Statesboro, GA, 30460-8149, USA.
Department of Health Systems Management and Policy, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA.
J Behav Health Serv Res. 2018 Apr;45(2):204-218. doi: 10.1007/s11414-017-9565-8.
This study examined disparities in emergency department (ED) wait time for patients with mental health and substance-related disorders (PwMHSDs), using data from the 2009-2011 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Wait time was defined as the time between arrival at ED and being seen by an ED provider. Results from multivariable regression models show racial disparities, with non-Hispanic Black PwMHSDs experiencing longer ED wait time, compared to non-Hispanic White PwMHSDs. A temporal decline in ED wait time was also observed over the study period. The findings of this study have implications for informing the development of policies tailored at facilitating the delivery of equitable emergency care services to all PwMHSDs.
本研究利用2009 - 2011年国家医院门诊医疗调查（NHAMCS）的数据，考察了患有精神健康和物质相关障碍的患者（PwMHSDs）在急诊科（ED）的候诊时间差异。候诊时间定义为到达急诊科至被急诊科医护人员诊治之间的时间。多变量回归模型的结果显示存在种族差异，与非西班牙裔白人PwMHSDs相比，非西班牙裔黑人PwMHSDs在急诊科的候诊时间更长。在研究期间还观察到急诊科候诊时间呈逐年下降趋势。本研究结果有助于为制定政策提供参考，以便为所有PwMHSDs提供公平的急诊护理服务。
