Personality predictors of emergency department post-discharge outcomes

Abstract

Personality traits are important predictors of health behaviors, healthcare utilization, and health outcomes. However, we know little about the role of personality traits for emergency department outcomes. The present study used data from 200 patients (effective Ns range from 84 to 191), who were being discharged from the emergency department at an urban hospital, to investigate whether the Big Five personality traits were associated with post-discharge outcomes (i.e., filling prescriptions, following up with primary care physician, making an unscheduled return to the emergency department). Using logistic regression, we found few associations among the broad Big Five domains and post-discharge outcomes. However, results showed statistically significant associations between specific Big Five items (e.g., “responsible”) and the three post-discharge outcomes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of assessing personality traits in an emergency medicine setting and highlights the utility of having information about patients’ personality tendencies for predicting post-discharge compliance.

Personality traits and health care use: A coordinated analysis of 15 international samples.

“…Similarly, few of the data sets included in the present analyses use personality-related content that lies beyond the Big Five such as other trait frameworks or measures of values, interests, and goals/motivations. As the present work contributes to a growing body of findings for small or null effects between the Big Five traits and health behaviors (e.g., Atherton et al, 2022) and given research demonstrating stronger associations for personality facets ad nuances relative to broad trait domains (e.g., Stewart et al, 2022), there is growing need to expand the assessment of personality in these large ongoing studies. Of course, the prospect of expanding assessment in these studies is a challenge in itself, as the demands on participants’ time and attention are already substantial.…”

“…In addition to our focus on broad types of health care use, we also focused on broad Big Five traits because the same five traits (or a subset of them) were assessed in all 15 data sets. However, more specific personality facets or nuances (Stewart et al, 2022) may be more strongly associated with health care use and may provide more information about why traits are associated with health care use (e.g., Atherton et al, 2022). Future research should examine associations between personality traits, facets, and nuances, and more specific types of health care use.…”

Personality traits and healthcare use: A coordinated analysis of 15 international samples

“…In addition to our focus on broad types of healthcare use, we also focused on broad Big Five traits because the same five traits (or a subset of them) were assessed in all 15 datasets. However, more specific personality facets or nuances (Stewart et al, 2022) may be more strongly associated with healthcare use and may provide more information about why traits are associated with healthcare use (e.g., Atherton et al, 2021). Future research should examine associations between personality traits, facets, and nuances, and more specific types of healthcare use.…”

Personality traits and other factors associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence at two hospitals in Uganda. A cross-sectional study

“…The beliefs about medication which influence non adherence are moderated by specific personality traits (12). Personality trait can predict healthcare utilization as well as health outcomes (13).In Italy neuroticism and conscientiousness were the most personality traits associated with psychotropic medication non adherence. High levels of conscientiousness traits were related to poorer understanding of the clinical information received from healthcare professionals (14).…”