These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Back so soon: rapid re-presentations to the emergency department following intentional self-harm.
    Author: Kuehl S, Nelson K, Collings S.
    Journal: N Z Med J; 2012 Dec 14; 125(1367):70-9. PubMed ID: 23321885.
    Abstract:
    AIM: To describe the number, characteristics and management of patients who presented to an emergency department (ED) with intentional self-harm and then re-presented for any reason within 1 week, over a 1-year period. METHOD: A retrospective records review from one New Zealand ED over 12 months. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients who attended the ED more than once with intentional self-harm, 48 re-presented on 73 occasions within 7 days of the index presentation. Of the re-presentations, 55% occurred within 1 day. Mental health assessments by emergency department staff were minimal; challenging incidents occurred in 40% of presentations; and there was an increase in the inpatient admission rate for second presentations. CONCLUSION: We identified a small group of patients who rapidly re-present to the ED following intentional self-harm. The reasons behind those re-presentations could include limited mental health assessments in ED and inadequate follow-up on discharge. System improvements in the ED including better collaboration with mental health services could improve how services address the needs of patients who present with intentional self-harm and reduce costs.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]