Disparities in Repeat Visits to Emergency Departments Among Transition-Age Youths With Mental Health Needs

作者：Aratani Yumiko^*; Addy Sophia

来源：Psychiatric Services, 2014, 65(5): 685-688.

DOI：10.1176/appi.ps.201300012

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine racial-ethnic and gender differences in return visits to emergency services among transition-age youths (aged 17 to 24 years) with mental health needs. Methods: Data were from the California Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery Data. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of returning to an emergency department among youths who had a psychiatric diagnosis (N=33,588). Results: About 41% of the sample returned to the emergency department within a year. Compared with white males, the odds of returning were lower for Hispanic males (odds ratio [OR]=.89) and Asian males (OR=.59) and higher for white females (OR=1.21), African-American females (OR=1.49), Hispanic females (OR=1.24), and Native American females (OR=2.09). Conclusions: Repeat visits to emergency departments among transition-age youths with psychiatric diagnoses may indicate limited access to or lack of high-quality care. The disparities indicate a need for culturally sensitive and gender-specific services for this vulnerable population.

• 出版日期2014-5