al-Shammari S, Jarallah J, Felimban F, el-Shabrawy Ali M, al-Bilali S, Hamad J
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Public Health Med. 1995 Jun;17(2):179-86. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubmed.a043090.
The aim of the present study was to find out the clinical and epidemiological pattern of long-stay in-patients.
A cross-sectional survey of long-stay patients in Ministry of Health general hospitals was conducted during the period January-June 1993. A trained research team which consisted of a physician, a nurse, social workers and medical record officers completed a pre-designed data form and interviewed treating teams, patients and their relatives. The data form consisted of sociodemographic data of patients, their duration of stay, and their clinical, social and psychological characteristics. The doctors', patients', their relatives' perceptions and their preferences about the place of care (hospital or home) plus the geographical location of the hospitals involved were also recorded.
Of the 1194 patients, 55 per cent came from either the central or southern regions. Male patients represent 65.2 per cent and the elderly (> 60 years of age) 41.6 per cent. Multiple pathologies were found in 50.9 per cent and special signs and symptoms, e.g. incontinence, were found in 59 per cent. The medical team felt that 54.1 per cent of all patients did not need nursing or required only routine nursing care. Treating doctors thought that 16.2 per cent of patients did not need admission and that a further 54.8 per cent could be cared for in the patient's home. However, 47.5 per cent of patients preferred to stay in hospital, and 60.6 per cent of their relatives preferred them to remain in hospital.
There is a need to plan for more cost-effective facilities for these patients. Any proposed health services will have to be culturally acceptable so as to encourage patients and relatives to utilize them.
本研究旨在了解长期住院患者的临床和流行病学模式。
1993年1月至6月期间，对卫生部综合医院的长期住院患者进行了横断面调查。一个由一名医生、一名护士、社会工作者和病案管理人员组成的经过培训的研究团队填写了预先设计的数据表格，并采访了治疗团队、患者及其亲属。数据表格包括患者的社会人口统计学数据、住院时间以及他们的临床、社会和心理特征。还记录了医生、患者及其亲属对护理场所（医院或家中）的看法和偏好，以及所涉医院的地理位置。
在1194名患者中，55%来自中部或南部地区。男性患者占65.2%，老年人（>60岁）占41.6%。50.9%的患者有多种病症，59%的患者有特殊体征和症状，如大小便失禁。医疗团队认为，所有患者中有54.1%不需要护理或仅需要常规护理。主治医生认为，16.2%的患者不需要住院，另有54.8%的患者可以在家中得到护理。然而，47.5%的患者更喜欢住院，60.6%的患者亲属希望他们继续住院。
有必要为这些患者规划更具成本效益的设施。任何提议的医疗服务都必须在文化上是可接受的，以便鼓励患者及其亲属使用这些服务。
