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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

Published in:

01-09-2008 | Original Paper

Travel Distance and the Use of Inpatient Care among Patients with Schizophrenia

Authors: Kuan-Chiao Tseng, David Hemenway, Ichiro Kawachi, S. V. Subramanian, Wei J. Chen

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 5/2008

Abstract

This study examines the variations in the use of inpatient care that can be explained by travel distance among patients with schizophrenia living in Taiwan. Data were drawn from the Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claims Database. We used mediation analysis and multilevel analysis to identify associations. Travel distance did not significantly account for lower readmission rates after an index admission, but significantly explained the longer length of stay of an index admission by 9.3 days (P < 0.001, 85% of variation) between remote and non-remote regions. Policies are discussed aimed at reducing the impact of travel distance on rural mental health care through inter-disciplinary collaboration and telepsychiatry.

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Title: Travel Distance and the Use of Inpatient Care among Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Kuan-Chiao Tseng
David Hemenway
Ichiro Kawachi
S. V. Subramanian
Wei J. Chen
Publication date: 01-09-2008
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 5/2008
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-008-0175-x

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Travel Distance and the Use of Inpatient Care among Patients with Schizophrenia

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