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Factors Associated with Inappropriate Utilisation of Emergency Department Services

Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences

L. Naing, MBBS, MMedStat

School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, naing{at}kck.usm.my

W.A. Wan Aasim, MBBCh, M.Med

Emergency Department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

T. Winn, MBBS, DrPH

Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences

B.N. Rusli, MBBS, PhD

School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia

This study was carried out to determine the associated factors and the reasons for inappropriate utilisation of Emergency Department (ED) services at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital. A case-control study was conducted with 170 cases from ED and 170 controls from the Outpatient Department (OPD). A self-administered questionnaire was designed and used to obtain sociodemographic data, knowledge on the functions of ED and OPD, health seeking attitude and behaviour, and reasons for seeking treatment at ED. The study found that gender, marital status, family size, shift work, perceived illness, and knowledge on the role and functions of ED and OPD were significant associated factors. The three most common reasons for inappropriate utilisation of ED were as follows: "due to severity of illness" (85%), "can't go to OPD during office hours" (42%), and "ED near my house" (27%). Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(2): 29-36.

Key Words: Emergency department • inappropriate utilisation • OPD services • perceived illness • university hospital.

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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 19, No. 2, 29-36 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/10105395070190020601


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Selasawati, H.G. Articles by Rusli, B.N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Selasawati, H.G. Articles by Rusli, B.N. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?