Patient Preference for the Boarding at Emergency Department of Aseer Central Hospital when Emergency is Working with Its Maximum Capacity and Inpatient Admission is Full

Abstract

Overcrowding in Emergency Department usually results in serious consequences such as delay in facilities, medical errors and medical complications as well. This occurs because delay in transfer of the patients from ED to inpatient departments. We conducted this study to know patients' and their attendants preferences to stay in ED or to be shifted to in-patient units. Data was collected via Arabic translated questioner. A total of 316 applicants included in the study (after inclusion / exclusion criteria), 144 patients with 157 patient attendants. 75 (52.1%) were male, while 69 (47.9%) were females. The preferred area for boarding was ED curtained space for 77.8% of patients and 79% of patient watcher as compared to 11.8% patients and 15.3% attendants who accepted the admission to inpatient hallway (p-value 0.253). Regarding the comparison of boarding time (8 hours and 24 hours), 55.5% of patients preferred in ED with 8 hours scenario versus 29.9% who preferred inpatient hallway (p=0.0897). When 24 hours scenario was compared, it was found that 59% patients preferred ED while 49.7% preferred inpatient hallway (p= 0.252). Current study proves that collectively patients prefer to stay in ED (either curtained space or hallway); this is because the patients received quick facilities and attention from the staff. However, with 24 hours scenario, more patients now preferred to stay in in-patient hallway; this is because of delay in transfer of the patients from ED, and delay or lack in facilities which usually occur during overcrowding. We concluded that patient and their preferences differ in different settings. However, overcrowding in ED should be dealt seriously with transfer of patients to in-patient departments / wards as soon as possible to avoid medical errors and complications.