4% v NFP 9 7%, OR1 6, 95% CI: 1 2 to 2 0, p = 0 0003) Frequent p

4% v NFP 9.7%, OR1.6, 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.0, p = 0.0003). Frequent presenters were also more likely to be divorced or separated than NFP patients (13.6% v 6.5%, OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7-2.8, p < 0.0001). Table 1 Demographic and marital status data comparing frequent presenters (FP) and non-frequent presenters (NFP) Frequent presenters to the emergency department were more than twice as likely to utilise the ambulance service to arrive at the hospital

than NFP patients (51% v 31%, OR 2.4, 95%CI: 2.3-2.6, p < 0.0001). There was no increased acuity in FP patients when assessed by their Australasian triage score on presentation Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical for each group. A comparison of frequency of triage category assessment between groups did not show any differences other than a slightly higher number of Australasian Triage category 3 patients in the FP group. Frequent presenters were three times as likely to present to the emergency department Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in the custody of the police (1.7% v 0.6%, OR 3.1, 95%CI: 2.4-3.9, p < 0.0001). The ED length of stay for FP group v NFP was not significant. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Analysis of the disposition of frequent presenters showed that this group of patients were more likely to be admitted to hospital (29% v 26.3%, OR 1.1, 95%CI: 1.07-1.2, p < 0.0001), more likely to have an admission to a

mental Selleck HA 1077 health bed than NFP patients (2.9% v 0.9%, OR 3.3, 95%CI: 2.7-3.9, p < 0.0001) and more likely to self-discharge from the emergency

department while waiting for care Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical than NFP patients (10.1% v 5.9%, OR = 1.7, 95%CI: 1.6-1.9, p < 0.0001). Comparison of admission diagnoses of FP and NFP groups revealed that frequent presenter patients were more likely to have an emergency department discharge diagnosis of a psychiatric problem (15.7% v 4.0%, OR 4.5, 95%CI: 4.1-4.9, p < 0.0001) or a respiratory complaint (8.1% v 3.2%, OR 2.6, 95%CI: 2.3-2.9, p < 0.0001). These two Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical groups combined comprised 24% of all admission diagnoses from the emergency department for FP patients. NFP patients were more likely to have a diagnosis related to acute infective (6.9% v 9.6%, OR 0.7, 95%CI: 0.6-0.8, p < 0.0001), nearly trauma-related (15.4% v 27.6%, OR 0.5, 95%CI: 0.4-0.52, p < 0.0001) or gynaecological problem (2.6% v 4.2%, OR 0.6, 95%CI: 0.5-0.7, p < 0.0001). These three diagnosis categories comprised 41% of all NFP presentation diagnoses. Emergency department diagnosis data are summarised in Figure ​Figure11. Figure 1 Forest plot comparing admission diagnoses for frequent presenters and non-frequent ED presenters. Discussion This study has assisted in better identifying a number of patient populations who may benefit from a targeted multidisciplinary approach in an Emergency Department setting. Such an approach must address the complex health needs of this vulnerable population. Frequent presenters represented 0.7% of adult ED patients, in our population, and 4.

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