What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify and evaluate the specific factors contributing to acute medical hospitalizations, focusing on illness prevention and disease control.

February 1, 1980Medical Care

Why People Are Hospitalized

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Authors

WMWesley B. MasonUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville CBC Leon BedwellUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville RZRoger Vander ZwaagBaptist Memorial Hospital

Discussion

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Implication

Observational study reveals preventable factors drive 78 percent of admissions in hospitalized adults, highlighting substantial targets for outpatient care.

Key Points

To identify and evaluate the specific factors contributing to acute medical hospitalizations, focusing on illness prevention and disease control.
Evaluated N=136 patients admitted to the general medical services of two large metropolitan hospitals.
Applied explicit clinical criteria to assess the role of lifestyle factors, treatment compliance, medical resources, and social circumstances in illness prevention and control.
Illness was determined to be preventable in 44% of admissions, and 31% could have been managed without hospitalization using standard medical regimens.
Specific contributors included patient compliance issues (21%), social circumstances (21%), lack or underuse of community resources (21%), alcohol abuse (17%), and smoking (15%).
Overall, 78% of admissions involved personal lifestyle habits, suboptimal management of prior illness, or social and community resource deficits, with 29% involving multiple preventable factors.

Cite This Study

Mason et al. (1980) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a72956b6ceb2bbd16e0634d https://doi.org/10.1097/00005650-198002000-00002

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Implication

Observational study reveals preventable factors drive 78 percent of admissions in hospitalized adults, highlighting substantial targets for outpatient care.

Why People Are Hospitalized

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Why People Are Hospitalized

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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