280 Analyzing the Impact of Low-Acuity Emergency Medical Services Arrivals on Resource Utilization in the Emergency Department

Lombardi, Kevin; Yiu, Allen J.; Pourmand, Ali

doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.08.285

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“…5,17 Previous studies attempting to describe or characterize this population and the factors driving their healthcare utilization have often focused on demographic characteristics: ethnicity, socioeconomic status, mental health status, marriage status, and employment. [18][19][20][21] Other factors associated with healthcare utilization are health literacy, 22,23 perceived selfefficacy, and patient satisfaction. 24 Unlike demographics, these factors are more modifiable and play broad roles in both patient healthcare utilization and the management of chronic conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Access Block: Understanding the Role of Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy in Low-Acuity Emergency Department Patients

Wayment¹,

Wong²,

Byers³

et al. 2020

TOJ

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Background: Health literacy, self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction are factors associated with healthcare utilization. The relationships among these factors and their combined impact on patients' self-rated health have historically been studied in chronic disease populations. This study assessed low-acuity emergency department (ED) patients' ratings of these factors, the relationships among these factors, and their effect on representation rates to the ED. Methods: In this single-arm cohort survey, patients provided demographic data, completed health literacy and self-efficacy assessments prior to being seen by a physician, and completed a discharge perceptions questionnaire that included a global satisfaction question at the time of departure. Three months later, patients answered a telephone survey to measure postED visit health outcomes. Results: Health literacy (r=0.114, P=0.023) and self-efficacy (r=0.469, P<0.001) were both independently and positively associated with self-rated health. Neither factor was associated with patient satisfaction. Self-rated health was negatively associated with return ED visits (r=-0.137, P=0.011). Conclusion: Existing research shows that health literacy has a linear association with self-efficacy and self-rated health. The results of this study suggest that in the context of low-acuity ED patients, health literacy and self-efficacy affect patients'understanding of their health status (self-rated health) but do not lead to better utilization of healthcare resources. Improvement of health literacy and self-efficacy, specifically to increase self-rated health, may provide a future avenue of intervention to reduce low-acuity ED patient representation .

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