Introduction and geographic disparity of consultation-liaison psychiatry in Japan: Retrospective analysis of data from the Japanese National Inpatient database.
Background: Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP)—professional psychiatric care provided to coordinate with surgical or medical treatment of inpatients with psychiatric disorders—was included in universal health coverage in Japan in 2012. Despite evidence of benefits of CLP, basic data and geographic distribution information regarding CLP at the national level remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the clinical features and geographic disparity of CLP provided in Japan.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed anonymized data retrieved from the Japanese administrative inpatient database regarding inpatients who were provided CLP between April 2012 and March 2017. Demographic characteristics were summarized and geographic disparity by prefecture was visualized for fiscal years 2012 and 2016; we also summarized the data with descriptive statistics according to region.
Results: Data from a total of 46,171 patients who received 138,866 CLP services were included. Results revealed more patients aged 75–84 years received CLPs than any other age group (29.7%) and the overall male/female ratio was 53:47 in 2016. In 2012 and 2016, 24.2% and 30.7% of CLP patients, respectively, were transferred to other hospitals; 9.7% and 8.8%, respectively, discharged due to the death. CLP services were provided in 14 prefectures in 2012 and 33 by 2016; 14 prefectures had no available CLP services.
Conclusions: Our study clarified the characteristics of patients in Japan who received CLPs and the geographic disparity in CLP services. Although five years had passed since CLP was introduced, the results imply wide availability of CLP nationally. The analysis data provided may inform future policies to improve CLP services.
Figure 1
Posted 18 Jun, 2020
On 03 Jan, 2021
Received 17 Dec, 2020
On 11 Jul, 2020
On 06 Jul, 2020
Received 06 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 03 Jul, 2020
On 12 Jun, 2020
On 03 Jun, 2020
On 03 Jun, 2020
On 02 Jun, 2020
Introduction and geographic disparity of consultation-liaison psychiatry in Japan: Retrospective analysis of data from the Japanese National Inpatient database.
Posted 18 Jun, 2020
On 03 Jan, 2021
Received 17 Dec, 2020
On 11 Jul, 2020
On 06 Jul, 2020
Received 06 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 03 Jul, 2020
On 12 Jun, 2020
On 03 Jun, 2020
On 03 Jun, 2020
On 02 Jun, 2020
Background: Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP)—professional psychiatric care provided to coordinate with surgical or medical treatment of inpatients with psychiatric disorders—was included in universal health coverage in Japan in 2012. Despite evidence of benefits of CLP, basic data and geographic distribution information regarding CLP at the national level remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the clinical features and geographic disparity of CLP provided in Japan.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed anonymized data retrieved from the Japanese administrative inpatient database regarding inpatients who were provided CLP between April 2012 and March 2017. Demographic characteristics were summarized and geographic disparity by prefecture was visualized for fiscal years 2012 and 2016; we also summarized the data with descriptive statistics according to region.
Results: Data from a total of 46,171 patients who received 138,866 CLP services were included. Results revealed more patients aged 75–84 years received CLPs than any other age group (29.7%) and the overall male/female ratio was 53:47 in 2016. In 2012 and 2016, 24.2% and 30.7% of CLP patients, respectively, were transferred to other hospitals; 9.7% and 8.8%, respectively, discharged due to the death. CLP services were provided in 14 prefectures in 2012 and 33 by 2016; 14 prefectures had no available CLP services.
Conclusions: Our study clarified the characteristics of patients in Japan who received CLPs and the geographic disparity in CLP services. Although five years had passed since CLP was introduced, the results imply wide availability of CLP nationally. The analysis data provided may inform future policies to improve CLP services.
Figure 1