Factors Influencing Length of Stay of Adult in-Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Study at 37 Military Hospital

Abstract

Understanding some of the factors that affect the length of stay (LOS) during admission to the hospital, more especially among patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), remains critical in the management of DM. LOS is a measuring tool used to determine how efficient care delivery is. This study aimed to determine average LOS and factors influencing LOS in patients diagnosed with type 1 and 2 DM and on admission to the hospital. The study was conducted at the 37 Military Hospital in the Accra metropolis. Schorr's theoretical model of factors influencing LOS served as a guide to this study. A cross-sectional survey method was used. One hundred and ten (110) patients who were admitted and discharged from the medical ward within five months were recruited. Again, a structured questionnaire consisting of patient-related factors, institutional factors, and comorbidities was used in collecting data. Data analysis used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. The ALOS was 8.85 days. According to Poisson regression analysis, factors that influenced LOS in DM admission were age, gender, previous history of hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), comorbidities, financial challenge, late specialist referral, taking more time in diagnosing, and trans out difficulties (p<0.05). Interventions targeting the risk factors for prolonged LOS would help improve patient management experience and the cost of treatment and hospitalization.