Jimoh B.M., Anthonia O.-C., Chinwe I., Oluwafemi A., Ganiyu A., Haroun A., Chinwe E., Joshua A.
Department of Surgery, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Pediat
Jimoh, B.M., Department of Surgery, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Anthonia, O.-C., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Chinwe, I., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Oluwafemi, A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Ganiyu, A., Department of Surgery, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Haroun, A., Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Chinwe, E., Department of Pediatrics, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; Joshua, A., Department of Radiology, Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria
Background. Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a global clinical phenomenon contributing significantly to adverse patients' outcome. Literatures abound on self-discharges in specific medical subpopulations. However, multidisciplinary studies on this subject in our region are few. Aim. To prospectively evaluate cases of DAMA in a wholesale multidisciplinary perspective at Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, and suggest strategies to reduce it. Patients and Methods. All consecutive patients who DAMA from our medical centre between June 2013 and May 2014 were included in the study. Data harvested from the standard proforma were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 19.0. Results. We recorded an overall DAMA rate of 2.1%. The majority of the patients were paediatric cases (n = 63, 44.6%) while closed long bone fractures represented the leading diagnosis (n = 35, 24.8%). The most commonly cited reasons for leaving the hospital were financial constraints (n = 46, 32.6%) and seeking alternative therapy (n = 25, 17.7%). Conclusion. The DAMA rate in our study is comparable to some urban hospitals elsewhere. However, the leading reasons for this phenomenon are unacceptable in the current medical best practice. Thus, strengthening the Health Insurance Scheme, strict control of traditional medical practices, and focused health education are recommended strategies to reduce DAMA. © 2015 Bioku Muftau Jimoh et al.
acute gastroenteritis; adolescent; adult; aged; alternative medicine; Article; dehydration; diabetes mellitus; discharge against medical advice; evaluation study; female; financial deficit; fracture; hospital discharge; human; hypertension; infant; major clinical study; malaria; male; newborn; newborn jaundice; Nigeria; prospective study; urban population