The rate and reasons for discharge against medical advice

Abstract EN

Objective : To evaluate the rate and reasons for discharge against medical advice.

Design : A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Setting : King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain.

Method : All patients discharged against medical advice (DAMA) from the Emergency Medicine Department (EMD) and in-patients from 1 August 2015 to 31 December 2015 were included in this study.

A preformed questionnaire was given to the patient or the family members who signed DAMA form.

The data were analyzed using SPSS version 19.0.

Result : Two hundred and ninety-nine patients were DAMA; the reasons for DAMA for adults and children combined were: 86 (28.8%) feeling better, 61 (20.4%) children at home, 51 (17.1%) long waiting time, 45 (15%) do not agree with the procedure or operation advised, 29 (9.7%) external obligations, 16 (5.4%) wish to have other treatment or consultation, 6 (2%) financial reasons, 3 (1%) dissatisfaction with medical or nursing care, 1 (0.3%) going on holiday and 1 (0.3%) the hospital does not allow husband to stay with his wife in the room.

The rate of DAMA signed by patients is relatively high when EMD was considered.

However, it was relatively low percentage when inpatient admission was taken into consideration.

Conclusion : Our study revealed several predictors, which could be used for healthcare improvement.