Incidence of leaving against medical advice (LAMA) among patients admitted at the accident and emergency unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

摘要: BACKGROUND: The causes and incidence of the commonly observed phenomenon leaving against medical advice (LAMA) in our hospitals have not been studied. This retrospective study was aimed at evaluating its pattern order to suggest possible solutions. METHODOLOGY: case files patients who left Casualty unit University Calabar Teaching Hospital between July 2002 December 2003 were retrieved from Medical Records Department information regarding age, sex, education/occupation, religion, diagnosis, reason(s) for duration stay casualty extracted. RESULTS: A total 3708 seen within this period. Ninety-seven but only ninety notes analyzable. Seven folders had incomplete information. Male/Female ratio 2:1 ages ranged 7 70 years (average 31.5 years). average 2.4 days (110 days). Sixty-five (72.2%) those various forms trauma while 8 (8.8%) general surgical problems. 19% (17) emergencies. CONCLUSION: youths are most vulnerable group principal environment ignorance poverty. Because poor documentation centres, it know where these go results their treatments. There is therefore a need further studies.