Travel distance and the use of inpatient care among patients with schizophrenia.
This study examines the variations in the use of inpatient care that can be explained by travel distance among patients with schizophrenia living in Taiwan. Data were drawn from the Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claims Database. We used mediation analysis and multilevel analysis to identify associations. Travel distance did not significantly account for lower readmission rates after an index admission, but significantly explained the longer length of stay of an index admission by 9.3 days (P<0.001, 85% of variation) between remote and non-remote regions. Policies are discussed aimed at reducing the impact of travel distance on rural mental health care through inter-disciplinary collaboration and telepsychiatry.
Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7 Chung-san S. Rd, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC. ktseng@ntu.edu.tw
Kuan-Chiao
KC
Tseng
David
D
Hemenway
Ichiro
I
Kawachi
S V
SV
Subramanian
Wei J
WJ
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014195:Travel