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Office or emergency department: what's the difference?
1Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Demographic and psychological factors predict emergency room use for nonurgent conditions. Healthcare providers should focus on patient problem-solving skills to reduce emergency department overcrowding.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Patient Behavior Analysis
Background:
- Emergency departments (EDs) frequently manage nonurgent conditions.
- Previous research explored financial, demographic, and proximity factors influencing ED visits.
- A gap exists in predicting which nonurgent patients utilize EDs versus postponing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of emergency room utilization for nonurgent medical conditions.
- To differentiate between patients seeking immediate ED care and those who postpone treatment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of demographic variables.
- Assessment of psychological factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior.
Main Results:
- Demographic and psychological variables significantly predict emergency room use for nonurgent issues.
- These factors offer a basis for predicting patient choices between ED visits and delayed care.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals must address modifiable factors, such as problem-solving skills.
- Interventions targeting patient psychological and behavioral aspects can alleviate emergency department overcrowding.