Variations in the intended utilization of emergency care in case of gastrointestinal diseases
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Variations in the intended utilization of emergency care in case of gastrointestinal diseases. / Klein, Jens; Koens, Sarah; Scherer, Martin; Strauß, Annette; Härter, Martin; von dem Knesebeck, Olaf .
In: HEALTH POLICY, Vol. 140, 02.2024, p. 104970.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Variations in the intended utilization of emergency care in case of gastrointestinal diseases
AU - Klein, Jens
AU - Koens, Sarah
AU - Scherer, Martin
AU - Strauß, Annette
AU - Härter, Martin
AU - von dem Knesebeck, Olaf
PY - 2024/2
Y1 - 2024/2
N2 - Frequent utilization of emergency care and overcrowded emergency departments (EDs) are highly relevant topics due to their harmful consequences for patients and staff. The present study examines variations of intended health care use in urgent and non-urgent cases among the general population. In a cross-sectional telephone survey, a sample of N = 1,204 adults residing in Hamburg, Germany, was randomly drawn. At the beginning of the survey, one of 24 different vignettes (case stories) describing symptoms of inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases were presented to the participants. The vignettes varied in sex (male/female), age (15, 49, 72 years), daytime (Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening), and urgency (low, high). Participants were asked in an open-ended question about their primal intended utilization if they or their children would be affected by such symptoms. Overall, about 14 % chose emergency facilities (ED, ambulance, emergency practice) despite presentation of non-urgent conditions (n = 602). Intended emergency care use varied considerably even if the degree of urgency was comparable. Adolescence, male sex, and symptoms occurring in the evening were associated with increased ED and ambulance use. Inappropriate utilization of ED and ambulance (analyses regarding utilization due to non-urgent problems) was more often observed among male respondents and those with a migration background (1st generation). Information campaigns focused on emergency care use and reorganisation of emergency care wards are possible interventions.
AB - Frequent utilization of emergency care and overcrowded emergency departments (EDs) are highly relevant topics due to their harmful consequences for patients and staff. The present study examines variations of intended health care use in urgent and non-urgent cases among the general population. In a cross-sectional telephone survey, a sample of N = 1,204 adults residing in Hamburg, Germany, was randomly drawn. At the beginning of the survey, one of 24 different vignettes (case stories) describing symptoms of inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases were presented to the participants. The vignettes varied in sex (male/female), age (15, 49, 72 years), daytime (Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening), and urgency (low, high). Participants were asked in an open-ended question about their primal intended utilization if they or their children would be affected by such symptoms. Overall, about 14 % chose emergency facilities (ED, ambulance, emergency practice) despite presentation of non-urgent conditions (n = 602). Intended emergency care use varied considerably even if the degree of urgency was comparable. Adolescence, male sex, and symptoms occurring in the evening were associated with increased ED and ambulance use. Inappropriate utilization of ED and ambulance (analyses regarding utilization due to non-urgent problems) was more often observed among male respondents and those with a migration background (1st generation). Information campaigns focused on emergency care use and reorganisation of emergency care wards are possible interventions.
U2 - 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104970
DO - 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104970
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 38194836
VL - 140
SP - 104970
JO - HEALTH POLICY
JF - HEALTH POLICY
SN - 0168-8510
ER -