Health care disparities in emergency department visits for mental health disorders

Ateequr Rahman *, Maikha Toutche, Druti Shukla, Liam Herrebout, Aya Alwan, Jessica Schwartzwald, Elizabeth Sutherland and Lejla Cukovic

Rosalind Franklin University College of Pharmacy, North Chicago, IL, USA.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 18(02), 408–414
Article DOI10.30574/wjarr.2023.18.2.0822
 
Publication history: 
Received on 29 March 2023; revised on 07 May 2023; accepted on 09 May 2023
 
Abstract: 
Mental health disorders are a leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits in the US. Unaddressed mental health problems can have a negative influence on society due to homelessness, poverty, unemployment, safety, and other issues. They may also impact the ability of children and youth to succeed in school, impact quality of life and increase health care costs. A total of 2,770 patients presenting with mental health related conditions, meeting the criteria of psychotic disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, depression, and other (ICD-10 code: F20-41) were extracted from the 2018 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care (NHAMCS) survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and Chi square tests and ANOVA with alpha significance level at 0.05. The visits to the ED for mental health were affected by various demographic factors, including age, race, region, and method of payments. The findings of the study have critical policy and public health implications. The results can aid hospitals and policy makers in addressing the critical health care issue facing our society.
 
Keywords: 
Mental Health; Health Care Disparity; Utilization of Resources; Health Care Costs
 
Full text article in PDF: 
Share this