Short summary

Patients readmitted with acute abdominal pain have a higher association with complication- and morbidity rates than single-visit patients. Research suggests that readmissions are caused by various reasons, including misdiagnosis, inadequate assessment, delayed treatment and early discharge. In this study, 16 readmitted patients with acute abdominal pain will be telephone interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide.

Rationale

Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms resulting in acute hospital admission. Unfortunately, managing patients presenting with pain or tenderness in the abdominal area is challenging. These patients often experience multiple admissions to an Emergency Department over a short period, associated with higher complication- and morbidity rates than single-visit patients.

Approximately one-third of abdominal pain patients are not diagnosed with any specific pathological condition. However, previous studies have reported that 50% of readmissions are caused by inadequate assessment of a patient's health status, misdiagnosis, delayed treatment or premature discharge. Also the Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Sønderjylland has patients with acute abdominal pain being readmitted. Explicit knowledge about how patients with acute abdominal pain experience being readmitted are absent. The results of this study will contribute with vital knowledge about how to care for these patients to improve the patient course and further, prevent readmission. The aim of the qualitative study is to explore how patients with acute abdominal pain experience readmission within 14 days after discharge.

Description of the cohort

This qualitative study aims to explore how patients with acute abdominal pain experience readmission within 14 days after discharge. It will be conducted in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Sønderjylland, Aabenraa, Denmark.

Data and biological material

Telephone interviews with 16 readmitted patients. The interviews will be semi-structured and focus on how patients experience their readmission, pain and the information given during their course.

Collaborating researchers and departments

The Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Sønderjylland, Aabenraa, Denmark.

• Helle Overgaard, head nurse, RN, investigator.
• Camilla V. Fogh, RN, project coordinator.
• Julie Marie S. Hansen, RN.
• Anne S. Rasmussen, RN.
• Dorthe Jensen, RN.
• Trine Otten, RN.

The Department of Surgery, Hospital Sønderjylland, Aabenraa, Denmark.

• Per Helligsø, head of department, MD.
• Jakob Grimm, MD.
• Anders Mariager Pedersen, MD

Research Service, Hospital Sønderjylland, Aabenraa, Denmark

• Kirsten Specht, associate professor, PhD, MPH, RN.
• Helene Skjøt-Arkil, associate professor, PhD.