“Fill ‘Er Up!” in the pharmacy of last resort: predictors of refill-seeking behavior in the emergency department

Abstract

Study objectives: We determine predictors of medication refill-seeking behavior in emergency department (ED) patients with chronic illness. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional ED survey of chronic medication use in a large public hospital ED (>140,000 visits/year) during a 6-week period. Adult ED patients (>18 years) taking chronic medications for congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension were included. Results: Of 1,168 patients approached, none refused participation; 344 (29%) presented to the ED after running out of medications. Significant univariate predictors of being in the ED for a medication include age younger than 50 years, non-Hispanic ethnicity, low income ( P Conclusion: Presenting for medication refills is common in ED patients with chronic illness; especially for those who are younger, uninsured, on a limited income, and unaware of common medication refill practices.