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Reasons for High Emergency Department Use Among Patients With Common Mental Disorders or Substance-Related Disorders
Karine-MichÈle Dion1, Francine Ferland2, Lambert Farand3
1Researcher, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Research Assistant, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC.
Aims:
This study examined the reasons for high emergency department (ED) use among patients with common mental disorders (MDs), substance-related disorders (SRDs) or co-occurring MDs-SRDs.
Method:
Following content analysis, 42 high ED users (three-plus visits/year) recruited in two Quebec EDs were interviewed.
Results:
The reasons included barriers to outpatient care, patient disabilities and professional practices. Patients with SRDs trust outpatient services less, those with MDs had important unmet needs and those with MDs-SRDs faced care coordination issues.
Conclusion:
Improvements such as ED use monitoring, consolidating MD-SRD practices and continuous training are needed in EDs and outpatient services to enhance access and continuity of care.
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