• Ann Emerg Med · Jun 2023

    A Qualitative Study of Emergency Physicians' and Nurses' Experiences Caring for Patients With Psychiatric Conditions and/or Substance Use Disorders.

    • Linda M Isbell, Hannah Chimowitz, Nathan R Huff, Guanyu Liu, Ezekiel Kimball, and Edwin Boudreaux.
    • Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA. Electronic address: lisbell@umass.edu.
    • Ann Emerg Med. 2023 Jun 1; 81 (6): 715727715-727.

    Study ObjectivePatients with psychiatric conditions and/or substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently seek care in emergency departments (EDs), where providing care for these populations can involve considerable challenges. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive data-driven model of the complex challenges and unique dynamics associated with caring for these populations in the ED, as well as the effect on patient care quality.MethodsWe conducted a preplanned topical analysis of grounded theory data obtained from semistructured interviews with 86 ED physicians and nurses from 8 hospitals in the Northeastern USA. Participants provided detailed descriptions of their experiences and challenges in caring for patients with psychiatric conditions and/or SUDs. We identified themes inductively using constant comparative analysis and developed a grounded model of physicians' and nurses' perceptions of challenges, biases, and effects on patient care.ResultsEmergency physicians and nurses described emotional, diagnostic, and logistical challenges that patients with psychiatric conditions and/or SUDs present. These challenges are magnified by existing health care system issues and social structures, which fuel and reinforce negative attitudes, expectations, and biases. In combination, these processes create negative health care experiences for patients, physicians, and nurses and can adversely affect patient care quality and ED staff well-being.ConclusionOur findings uncover a cyclical process whereby challenges and biases associated with patients with psychiatric conditions and/or SUDs can reciprocally threaten patient care quality. Systemic changes and localized interventions are urgently needed to mitigate challenges, reduce bias, improve patient care, and improve physicians' and nurses' experiences in the ED.Copyright © 2022 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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