Inappropriate hospitalization days in Korean oriental medicine hospitals

To examine the extent of inappropriate hospitalization days in Korean oriental medicine (OM) hospitals and to determine the factors associated with inappropriate stays.

Cross-sectional study design using concurrent and retrospective medical record reviews.

Two teaching OM hospitals in Korea.

Patients (n = 256) consecutively discharged from general care units in two OM hospitals in 1 month.

The appropriateness of each hospitalization day was assessed using a modified appropriateness evaluation protocol. Patient and healthcare use characteristics were also reviewed. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with inappropriate stay.

Rate of inappropriate hospitalization days.

Overall, 14.9% (691/4644) of hospitalization days reviewed were judged inappropriate with a mean of 18.3% (95% confidence interval = 14.6-22.0) per patient. Approximately half of patients (n = 126, 49.2%) had at least 1 inappropriate hospitalization day. Factors associated with inappropriate hospitalization days were admission method and number of types of OM therapies. Patients admitted to hospitals on foot without assistance had more inappropriate hospitalization days than those admitted by stretcher cart. Those who underwent several types of OM therapies during hospitalization had fewer inappropriate hospitalization days.

A substantial proportion of hospitalization days were evaluated as inappropriate. Patient condition at admission and types of OM therapies required should be taken into account to reduce unnecessary stays in OM hospitals. Additionally, availability of OM services, especially for patients with limited motor functions, needs to be improved outside hospitals.