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BMC Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Schizophrenia | Research

A sequence analysis of hospitalization patterns and service utilization in patients with major psychiatric disorders in China

Authors: Xueyan Han, Feng Jiang, Jack Needleman, Moning Guo, Yin Chen, Huixuan Zhou, Yuanli Liu, Chen Yao, Yilang Tang

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Understanding the long-term inpatient service cost and utilization of psychiatric patients may provide insight into service demand for these patients and guide the design of targeted mental health programs. This study assesses 3-year hospitalization patterns and quantifies service utilization intensity of psychiatric patients in Beijing, China.

Methods

We identified patients admitted for one of three major psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar and depressive disorders) between January 1 and December 31, 2013 in Beijing, China. Inpatient admissions during the following 3 years were extracted and analyzed using sequence analysis. Clinical characteristics, psychiatric and non-psychiatric service use of included patients were analyzed.

Results

The study included 3443 patients (7657 hospitalizations). The patient hospitalization sequences were grouped into 4 clusters: short stay (N = 2741 (79.61% of patients), who had 126,911 or 26.82% of the hospital days within the sample), repeated long stay (N = 404 (11.73%), 76,915 (16.26%) days), long-term stay (N = 101 (2.93%), 59,909 (12.66%) days) and permanent stay (N = 197 (5.72%), 209,402 (44.26%) days). Length and frequency of hospitalization, as well as readmission rates were significantly different across the 4 clusters. Over the 3-year period, hospitalization days per year decreased for patients in the short stay and repeated long stay clusters. Patients with schizophrenia (1705 (49.52%)) had 78.4% of cumulative psychiatric stays, with 11.14% of them in the permanent stay cluster. Among patients with depression, 23.11% had non-psychiatric hospitalizations, and on average 46.65% of their total inpatient expenses were for non-psychiatric care, the highest among three diagnostic groups.

Conclusion

Hospitalization patterns varied significantly among psychiatric patients and across diagnostic categories. The high psychiatric care service use of the long-term and permanent stay patients underlines the need for evidence-based interventions to reduce cost and improve care quality.

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Title: A sequence analysis of hospitalization patterns and service utilization in patients with major psychiatric disorders in China
Authors: Xueyan Han
Feng Jiang
Jack Needleman
Moning Guo
Yin Chen
Huixuan Zhou
Yuanli Liu
Chen Yao
Yilang Tang
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Schizophrenia
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03251-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

A sequence analysis of hospitalization patterns and service utilization in patients with major psychiatric disorders in China

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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