title: Why patients sign out against medical advice (AMA): factors motivating patients to sign out AMA.
abstract: A retrospective review of the against medical advice (AMA) discharges revealed that the majority of the patients left AMA for personal reasons, i.e., sickness or death in the family; reconciliation with spouse, girl friend, or family members; financial problems; and legal issues such as a court date. Strategies to reduce AMA discharges and increase patient retention in treatment are suggested.
authors.affiliation: VAMC Medical Center 116A, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. ptgreen1@cs.com
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Vasant
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dhopesh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*