Leaving against medical advice in trauma patients from Emergency department: a retrospective study in tertiary health care Centre

Dr K L Narayana Rao; Dr M Mallikarjuna Reddy; Dr T J Prasanna Kumar

Volume : VII, Issue : V, May - 2018

Leaving against medical advice in trauma patients from Emergency department: a retrospective study in tertiary health care Centre

Dr K L Narayana Rao, Dr M Mallikarjuna Reddy, Dr T J Prasanna Kumar

Abstract :

Aim: Our aim was to find out the reasons behind the leaving AMA in trauma patients from emergency department in payment prior model.

Material and Method: We conducted a retrospective review study of charts of ED patients who were discharged AMA between 1 November 2015 and 1 April 2016 at a tertiary care center in Andhra Pradesh, India. Reasons for leaving against medical advice among trauma patients from the emergency department were collected by follow–up telephone interviews.

Results: A total of 127 patients discharged AMA during the study period. Their mean age was 35yrs(SD±14.7) with 70% of them are males. Reasons for leaving AMA were, patient attained symptomatic relief (33.1%),for seeking second opinion (19.7%), financial reasons (11.8%), and long wait times (5.5%),family obligations (3.1%), and others (0.8%). Discharge diagnoses were mainly head injuries (24.4%), long bone injuries (19.7%), facial injuries (3%), and minor injuries (44.9%) and other injuries (8%).

Conclusion: This study interprets that LAMA patients who are at high risk could avoid the unwanted complications by seeking medical advice.