Related factors to outpatient service visit of patients with depression in psychiatric hospitals

Abstract

Objective To investigate the related factors to outpatient service visit of patients with depression in psychiatric hospitals and to analyze the factors related to their timely-visit and choice of medical service at initial visit.Methods One hundred and fifty-six depressive outpatients (including initial visit and return visits) in Peking University Sixth Hospital and Beijing Huilongguan Hospital during May 2007 to October 2007 were investigated.The investigation was carried out by using a self-designed questionnaire, which included general conditions of patients,course of disease and counseling information,et al.Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship among several factors with clinical characteristics.Results (1) There was statistical difference between timely-visit group ( visiting a psychiatrist in less than 3 months after onset) and delay-visit group ( visiting a psychiatrist in more than 3 months after onset) in insight of the disease,chief complaints,stigma about disease,medical service of first counseling,pattern of visit,cost of visit and positive family history ( P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜0.01 ).(2) There was statistical difference between psychiatric hospital visit group (first visit in a psychiatric hospital) and non-psychiatric hospital visit group (first visit in a non-psychiatric hospital) in their insight of the disease,chief complaints,positive family history,cost of visit,marriage status and education level (P ＜0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ).(3) Logistic regression analysis showed that the chief complains and insight of the disease was related to the patients' hospital choice at the first visit (odds ratio of 6.379 and 2.714).Conclusions The related factors to the timely visit of outpatients with depression are their insight of the disease,chief compliance,stigma of disease,pattern of visit,choice of hospital service at their first visit,education level and positive family history,and the insight of the disease,chief complaints,positive family history, education level and marriage status are related to the outpatients' choice of medical service at their first visit. Key words: Hospitals,psychiatric; Depressive disorder; Factor analysis,statistical; Clinical characteristics