Characterization of absconding and attempts to abscond in a Colombian general hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4548Keywords:
Escape Reaction, Runaway Behavior, Patient Dropouts, HospitalizationAbstract
Highlights
- Patient absconding is a problem for both specialized psychiatric institutions and general care institutions.
- The prevalence of absconding observed was much lower than that reported in other countries, despite patients sharing similar characteristics.
- Absconding and attempts to abscond, as well as the motivations behind these events, vary depending on the regional context.
- Knowing the epidemiological profile of absconding can play an important role in its prevention.
Introduction: Patient absconding in healthcare institutions has been associated with negative outcomes for both patients and the institutions themselves. Despite this, few studies have evaluated the frequency and characteristics of these events in Latin America, especially in general healthcare hospitals that do not specialize in psychiatric care. Objective: To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as well as the event characteristics, among patients who absconded or attempted to abscond from a tertiary general hospital in Medellín, Colombia, between 2015 and 2023. Materials and Methods: Quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary sources, where information was collected from the medical records of patients who absconded or attempted to abscond at the Hospital Alma Mater de Antioquia. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results: A total of 141 events were recorded during the evaluated period (135 absconds and 6 attempts to abscond). The period prevalence of absconding was 5.5 per 10,000 admissions, and most patients were young, single males, with a high frequency of substance use. Most events took place in the emergency department during the daytime. Discussion: Studying the epidemiological profile of absconding patients and their motivations could facilitate prevention and intervention. Conclusion: A lower absconding rate was found compared to reports from other countries. However, the characteristics of the patients were similar, with a predominance of young, single male patients with psychiatric history.
How to cite this article: Prada Nicolas J, Castrillón-Martínez Esteban, Perez-Gutierrez Ana María, Zapata-Ospina Juan Pablo. Characterization of absconding and attempts to abscond in a Colombian general hospital. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(3):e4548. https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4548
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