Discharge against medical advice among children in Oman : a university hospital experience
Other Title(s)
الخروج ضد المشورة الطبية بين الأطفال في عمان : تجربة مستشفى جامعي
Author
Source
Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
Issue
Vol. 13, Issue 4 (30 Nov. 2013), pp.534-538, 5 p.
Publisher
Sultan Qaboos University College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Publication Date
2013-11-30
Country of Publication
Oman
No. of Pages
5
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a major problem in healthcare delivery as it can complicate the health problems from which patients are suffering.
The aim of this study was to understand DAMA among children in a tertiary teaching hospital in Oman and to evaluate the documentation of the events in the medical records.
Methods: A retrospective survey of the medical records of patients discharged against medical advice over a two-year interval was performed (2004–2006).
Results: Of the 11,802 admissions, there were 38 cases of DAMA, giving a prevalence rate of 0.32%.
In 39.5% of the cases, the discharge happened within 24 hours of hospital admission.
The majority of the cases were infants (n = 24; 63.25%).
The diagnosis at discharge in some cases included life-threatening conditions.
However, in 57.9% of the cases, the reasons for DAMA were neither reported nor documented in the patients’ medical records.
Conclusion: Although the results of this study yielded a low prevalence rate compared to the rates reported in other studies, the occurrence of DAMA for children in a tertiary hospital is a distressing phenomenon.
It was evident that the documentation of the DAMA process was poor.
More studies should be conducted to understand the details of the problem.
Policies should be established and implemented in order to attempt to reduce DAMA among child patients and to protect them from the consequences of such discharges.
American Psychological Association (APA)
al-Sadun, Muna. 2013. Discharge against medical advice among children in Oman : a university hospital experience. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal،Vol. 13, no. 4, pp.534-538.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-642392
Modern Language Association (MLA)
al-Sadun, Muna. Discharge against medical advice among children in Oman : a university hospital experience. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal Vol. 13, no. 4 (Nov. 2013), pp.534-538.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-642392
American Medical Association (AMA)
al-Sadun, Muna. Discharge against medical advice among children in Oman : a university hospital experience. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2013. Vol. 13, no. 4, pp.534-538.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-642392
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 538
Record ID
BIM-642392