Patient Reported Experiences of Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia Emergency Departments: A Patient-Oriented Exploration of Survey Data

Ross Duncan, BC SUPPORT Unit, Michael Smith Health Research BC, Vancouver, BC AND Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BCFollow
Ed Martin, Patient Partner, Emergency Care BC, BC Provincial Health Services Authority
Louise Yeoh, Patient Partner, Emergency Care BC, BC Provincial Health Services Authority
John Grogan, Patient Partner, Emergency Care BC, BC Provincial Health Services Authority
Riyad B. Abu-Laban, Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BC AND Emergency Care BC, BC Provincial Health Services Authority

ORCID

Ross Duncan: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6794-1188

Abstract

Project Title: Patient reported experiences of mental health and substance use in British Columbia Emergency Departments: A patient-oriented exploration of survey data. Background: Existing surveys of BC EDs have failed to engage patients to guide research. A provincial level survey of patient experiences in emergency departments was identified as a rich source of data for collaboration level patient-oriented research, with patient partners co-developing research questions and focus of data analysis. Methods: This Patient Oriented Research recruited three patient partners who, through a co-creation process, prioritized dimensions and questions on communication with providers, culturally safe and compassionate care, overall ED rating, and the possibility that patients with mental health or substance use complaints may have worse experiences. Results: ED patients presenting with a mental health presentation were more likely to have a negative experience across all examined domains (N = 253; 57% recommend their ED vs 67% of general population, overall: p = 0.02). We were unable to identify a large enough sample of substance use presentations for statistical inference. Conclusion: While most BC ED patients with Mental Health presentations have a positive experience, they are more likely to have a negative experience than the general population. We note that this result corroborates common findings in the literature but highlight that this analysis was championed by and co-developed with patient partners rather than traditional researcher-led models of knowledge production. Further research is warranted to understand the reasons, and potential interventions, for this situation.

Recommended Citation

Duncan R, Martin E, Yeoh L, Grogan J, Abu-Laban R. Patient Reported Experiences of Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia Emergency Departments: A Patient-Oriented Exploration of Survey Data. Patient Experience Journal. ; 13(3):272-282. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.2174.