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The relationship between outpatient service use and emergency department visits among people treated for mental and substance use disorders: analysis of population-based administrative data in British Columbia, Canada Lavergne, M. R.; Loyal, Jackson P.; Shirmaleki, Mehdi; Kaoser, Ridhwana; Nicholls, Tonia L.; Schütz, Christian G.; Vaughan, Adam; Samji, Hasina; Puyat, Joseph H.; Kaulius, Megan; Jones, Wayne; Small, William

Abstract

Background Research findings on the association between outpatient service use and emergency department (ED) visits for mental and substance use disorders (MSUDs) are mixed and may differ by disorder type. Methods We used population-based linked administrative data in British Columbia, Canada to examine associations between outpatient primary care and psychiatry service use and ED visits among people ages 15 and older, comparing across people treated for three disorder categories: common mental disorders (MDs) (depressive, anxiety, and/or post-traumatic stress disorders), serious MDs (schizophrenia spectrum and/or bipolar disorders), and substance use disorders (SUDs) in 2016/7. We used hurdle models to examine the association between outpatient service use and odds of any ED visit for MSUDs as well count of ED visits for MSUDs, stratified by cohort in 2017/8. Results Having had one or more MSUD-related primary care visit was associated with lower odds of any ED visit among people treated for common MDs and SUDs but not people treated for serious MDs. Continuity of primary care was associated with slightly lower ED use in all cohorts. One or more outpatient psychiatrist visits was associated with lower odds of ED visits among people treated for serious MDs and SUDs, but not among people with common MDs. Conclusion Findings highlight the importance of expanded access to outpatient specialist mental health services, particularly for people with serious MDs and SUDs, and collaborative models that can support primary care providers treating people with MSUDs.

Item Metadata

Title
The relationship between outpatient service use and emergency department visits among people treated for mental and substance use disorders: analysis of population-based administrative data in British Columbia, Canada
Creator
Lavergne, M. R.; Loyal, Jackson P.; Shirmaleki, Mehdi; Kaoser, Ridhwana; Nicholls, Tonia L.; Schütz, Christian G.; Vaughan, Adam; Samji, Hasina; Puyat, Joseph H.; Kaulius, Megan; Jones, Wayne; Small, William
Contributor
BC Centre for Disease Control; Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences
Publisher
BioMed Central
Date Issued
2022-04-11
Description
Background Research findings on the association between outpatient service use and emergency department (ED) visits for mental and substance use disorders (MSUDs) are mixed and may differ by disorder type. Methods We used population-based linked administrative data in British Columbia, Canada to examine associations between outpatient primary care and psychiatry service use and ED visits among people ages 15 and older, comparing across people treated for three disorder categories: common mental disorders (MDs) (depressive, anxiety, and/or post-traumatic stress disorders), serious MDs (schizophrenia spectrum and/or bipolar disorders), and substance use disorders (SUDs) in 2016/7. We used hurdle models to examine the association between outpatient service use and odds of any ED visit for MSUDs as well count of ED visits for MSUDs, stratified by cohort in 2017/8. Results Having had one or more MSUD-related primary care visit was associated with lower odds of any ED visit among people treated for common MDs and SUDs but not people treated for serious MDs. Continuity of primary care was associated with slightly lower ED use in all cohorts. One or more outpatient psychiatrist visits was associated with lower odds of ED visits among people treated for serious MDs and SUDs, but not among people with common MDs. Conclusion Findings highlight the importance of expanded access to outpatient specialist mental health services, particularly for people with serious MDs and SUDs, and collaborative models that can support primary care providers treating people with MSUDs.
Subject
Mental disorders; Substance use disorders; Ambulatory care; Primary care; Continuity of care; Emergency services; Emergency department visits; Administrative data
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2022-05-25
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
DOI
10.14288/1.0413686
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/81626
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Non UBC; Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of; Psychiatry, Department of
Citation
BMC Health Services Research. 2022 Apr 11;22(1):477
Publisher DOI
10.1186/s12913-022-07759-z
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher
Copyright Holder
The Author(s)
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

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Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)