Anxiety and mood (대한불안의학회지)

Korean Academy of Anxiety Disorders (대한불안의학회)
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Hospital Avoidance and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 대유행 동안의 병원 회피 현상 및 연관 요인

  • Jong-Wook Jeon (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Se Joo Kim (Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Su-Young Lee (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jhin Goo Chang (Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Chan-Hyung Kim (Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine)
  • 전종욱 (한양대학교 의과대학 명지병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 김세주 (연세대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실 의학행동과학연구소) ;
  • 이수영 (한양대학교 의과대학 명지병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 장진구 (한양대학교 의과대학 명지병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 김찬형 (연세대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실 의학행동과학연구소)
  • Received : 2023.09.07
  • Accepted : 2023.10.07
  • Published : 2023.10.30
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Abstract

Objective : During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospital avoidance had a significant impact on public health. We investigated the factors associated with hospital avoidance and explored practical strategies hospitals could employ to address this phenomenon. Methods : We conducted a patient experience survey in a general hospital in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between July 6, 2020, and July 20, 2020, a total of 842 patients who had previously visited hospitals before the COVID-19 outbreak participated. Self-reported hospital avoidance, factors associated with hospital avoidance, and satisfaction with the hospital's infection control policies were the main outcomes. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors. Results : Data indicated that 29.9% (n=252) of the respondents avoided visiting the hospital after the COVID-19 outbreak. Satisfaction with the hospital infection control policy (odds ratio [OR]=2.297, p<0.001), female sex (OR=1.619, p<0.05), and higher educational level (OR=1.884, p<0.001) were associated with hospital avoidance. The "entrance body temperature check" was the most satisfactory policy among the hospital's infection control policies. Conclusion : To manage hospital avoidance during an infectious disease crisis, targeted policies for at-risk groups and hospital policies to reassure and satisfy patients are needed.

본 연구는 COVID-19 대유행 이전부터 병원을 이용한 환자들의 관점에서 병원 회피와 연관 요인을 조사했다는 점에서 의미가 있다. 감염병 위기 기간 동안 병원 회피에 대응하기 위해서는 병원내 감염 관리 대책의 준비와 환자들과의 적극적인 소통이 필요하다. 이 연구는 향후 전염병 위기 기간 동안의 병원 회피에 대한 의료 정책을 포함한 대응책의 준비에 기여할 수 있을 것이다.

Keywords

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