Accepted author manuscript, 244 KB, PDF document
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Discharge Against Medical Advice
T2 - The causes, consequences and possible corrective measures
AU - Gaur, Akshay
AU - Gilham, Elizabeth
AU - Machin, Laura
AU - Warriner, David
PY - 2024/8/30
Y1 - 2024/8/30
N2 - Patients who discharge themselves against medical advice (DAMA) comprise 1-2% of hospital admissions. DAMA is defined as when a hospitalised patient chooses to leave the hospital before the treating medical team recommends discharge. The act of DAMA impacts on both the patient, the staff and their ongoing care. Specifically, this means that the patient’s medical problems maybe inadequately assessed or treated. Patients who decide to DAMA tend to be young males, from a lower socioeconomic background and with a history of mental health or substance misuse disorder. DAMA has an associated increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In this review of studies across Western healthcare settings, specifically adult medical inpatients, we will review the evidence and seek to address the causes, consequences and possible corrective measures in this common scenario.
AB - Patients who discharge themselves against medical advice (DAMA) comprise 1-2% of hospital admissions. DAMA is defined as when a hospitalised patient chooses to leave the hospital before the treating medical team recommends discharge. The act of DAMA impacts on both the patient, the staff and their ongoing care. Specifically, this means that the patient’s medical problems maybe inadequately assessed or treated. Patients who decide to DAMA tend to be young males, from a lower socioeconomic background and with a history of mental health or substance misuse disorder. DAMA has an associated increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In this review of studies across Western healthcare settings, specifically adult medical inpatients, we will review the evidence and seek to address the causes, consequences and possible corrective measures in this common scenario.
UR - https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/hmed.2024.0231
U2 - 10.12968/hmed.2024.0231
DO - 10.12968/hmed.2024.0231
M3 - Journal article
VL - 85
JO - British Journal of Hospital Medicine
JF - British Journal of Hospital Medicine
SN - 1750-8460
IS - 8
ER -