[Factors determining inappropriate days of stay in a third-level hospital].
BACKGROUND
To identify the factors associated with a higher risk of inappropriate days of stay.


METHODS
Crude and adjusted inappropriateness rates were calculated using negative binomial regression to obtain information about the relative risk of each variable. The Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) was applied to collect information about patients' hospital stays.


RESULTS
A total of 34.17% (95%CI, 33.28-35.08) of the stays were inappropriate. Women, age older than 65 years, elective admission, and stays in medical services showed the highest inappropriateness risk. Lack of correct patient follow-up in the medical record increased the risk of inappropriateness to 36%.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of continual registration of the patient's clinical course increased the risk of inappropriate days of stay in the hospital. The use of the negative binomial is a valid and simple option for analysis of this type of phenomenon.
Luquero Alcalde
Francisco Javier
FJ
Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, España. luquero@gmail.com
Santos Sanz
Sara
S
Pérez Rubio
Alberto
A
Tamames Gómez
Sonia
S
Cantón Alvarez
M Belén
MB
Castrodeza Sanz
Javier
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016010:Binomial Distribution; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors