Table 3 Overview of the characteristics and features of emergency department visits
Variable | All patients (n = 242) | Patients with Unavoidable Visits (n = 189) | Patients with Avoidable Visits (n = 53) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ED visit timing (%) | ||||
During standard business hours | 86.0 (35.5) | 72.0 (38.1) | 14.0 (26.4) | 0.143 |
During nonbusiness hours | 156.0 (64.5) | 117.0 (61.9) | 39.0 (73.6) | |
Phone call before ED Visit | 9.0 (3.7) | 7.0 (3.7) | 2.0 (3.8) | 0.956 |
Referral from outpatient clinic | 18.0 (7.4) | 14.0 (7.4) | 4.0 (7.5) | 0.937 |
Last chemotherapy before ED Visit (%) | ||||
Within one month | 67.0 (27.7) | 55.0 (29.1) | 12.0 (22.6) | 0.680 |
More than one month | 151.0 (62.4) | 115.0 (60.8) | 36.0 (67.9) | |
Not Applicable | 24.0 (9.9) | 19.0 (10.1) | 5.0 (9.4) | |
Radiation therapy before ED visit (%) | ||||
Within one month | 11.0 (4.5) | 9.0 (4.8) | 2.0 (3.8) | 0.063 |
More than one month | 98.0 (40.5) | 83.0 (43.9) | 15.0 (28.3) | |
Not Applicable | 133.0 (55.0) | 97.0 (51.3) | 36.0 (67.9) | |
Outcome of ED visit (%) | ||||
Oncology ward | 93.0 (38.4) | 69.0 (36.5) | 24.0 (45.3) | 0.069 |
Intensive care unit | 1.0 (0.4) | 1.0 (0.5) | 0.0 (0.0) | |
Palliative care unit | 53.0 (21.9) | 41.0 (21.7) | 12.0 (22.6) | |
Death | 53.0 (21.9) | 49.0 (25.9) | 4.0 (7.5) | |
Others | 42.0 (17.4) | 29.0 (15.3) | 13.0 (24.5) | |
Length of Hospital Stay (%) | ||||
0–20 days | 188.0 (77.7) | 140.0 (74.1) | 48.0 (90.6) | 0.045 |
21–40 | 35.0 (14.5) | 32.0 (16.9) | 3.0 (5.7) | |
>41 days | 19.0 (7.9) | 17.0 (9.0) | 2.0 (3.8) | |
Referred to home health care (%) | ||||
Yes | 35.0 (14.5) | 29.0 (15.3) | 6.0 (11.3) | 0.499 |
No | 207.0 (85.5) | 160.0 (84.7) | 47.0 (88.7) | |