Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Clinical and Applied Health Research (ICAHR), University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
Centre for Health Services Research, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NF, UK.
Alcohol Alcohol. 2023 Sep 9;58(5):561-564. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agad047.
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.
本研究旨在探讨与酒精戒断患者出院时违反医嘱相关的特征，为医院工作人员和酒精护理团队提供支持，并确定可能有助于确定最有可能违反医嘱出院的患者的特征。我们使用医院入院统计数据来识别人口统计学和临床变量，并比较这些变量在因违反医嘱而从医院出院的酒精戒断患者与那些经临床团队出院的患者中的差异。与酒精戒断患者从医院违反医嘱出院显著相关的因素有：因紧急情况入院；周末出院；无固定住所；男性；年龄较小且住院时间较短。本研究确定了可以用于支持急性医院和酒精护理团队的特征，特别是在分配资源以减少违反医嘱出院和随后再次入院方面。应特别考虑在急诊部门和周末提供临床服务，以及那些入院且无固定住所的患者。
