Uncovering Factors Affecting Use of the Emergency Department for Less Urgent Health Problems in Urban and Rural Areas

Abstract

People who access the emergency department for less urgent health problems have been described as inappropriate users of the health-care system. Yet little is known about the factors precipitating such use and how these differ based on location of the emergency department. In this descriptive-correlational study guided by Andersen's Model of Health Services Use, 1,612 people who presented to an emergency department with a less urgent health problem were interviewed. Analysis revealed rural/urban differences in the characteristics of patients, nature of the problems, actions taken, and factors precipitating the visit. Despite its popularity, the predictive capabilities of Andersen's model were limited in explaining use of self-treatment or willingness to wait for treatment. The findings show that an emergency department's roles and functions vary according to its location. Such insights provide direction for developing services that respond to the needs of people with less urgent health problems that are cognizant of geographic location.