The comprehensive study on "hospitalizatioin for non-medical reason" in Japan

2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 12672187
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: KYOTO UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: FUKUI Tsuguya Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Professor, 医学研究科, 教授 (50208930)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ASAI Atsushi Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Assistant Professor, 医学研究科, 助教授 (80283612) ; KOYAMA Hiroshi Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Lecturer, 医学研究科, 講師 (90273515) ; SHIMBO Takuro Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Assistant Professor, 医学研究科, 助教授 (10146582) ; OHNISHI Motoki Kansai Airport Quarantine Station, Quarantine Medical Officer, 検疫医官(研究員) (90314187) ; MATSUI Kunihiko Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Instructor, 医学研究科, 助手 (80314201)
• Project Period (FY): 2000 – 2001
• Keywords: Hospitalization for non-medical reason / Criteria for hospitalization / Cliical research / Quality of care / Medical expenses / Definition / Classification / Evaluation

Research Abstract

The issue of hospitalization for non-medical reason is one of the critical problems in Japan, related to various aspects of the social, cultural, and health care system issues in Japan. It is considerd to contribute to a long length of stay at hospital in Japan. It is first of all:necessary for us to approach to this complicated issue, based on the cycle of evaluation, planning, action and re-evaluation.
In this study, we performed a literature review to identify a definition and classification of "hospitalization for non-medical reason" and two cross-sectional questionnaire surveys regarding decisions of discharge date from hospital.
The literature review showed that there is no widely accepted definition and classification of "hospitalization fro non-medical reason". Therefore, we proposed our own definition of "hospitalization for non-medicalreason" based on the findings of extensive literature research.
Questionnaire surveys showed that patients and their families held a locus of control for deciding a day of discharge. "Hospitalization for non-medical reason" was a common phenomenon in patients regardless of the post-discharge necessity of chronic care.
Limitations of the current questionnaire surveys include small sample size and sampling bias. A further research is mandatory to explorer nation.-wide situation of "hospitalization for non-medical reason".