The profile of absconding XXXX inpatients in Australia.

@entity1 @entity161 @entity146
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine absconding behaviour (a @entity1 leaving the hospital without permission) in acute and rehabilitation wards of one Australian @entity146 institution to describe the characteristics of the absconding @entity1 and these events. BACKGROUND: Absconding is a significant issue in @entity146 inpatient settings, with risks that include @entity1 harm, aggression and violence. In spite of this, limited research has been conducted in Australia on @entity1 who abscond while receiving @entity146 care. DESIGN: The study was a retrospective descriptive analysis. METHOD: Absconding events from three acute and seven rehabilitation wards over a 12-month period were studied. RESULTS: The rate of absconding events by detained @entity1 was 20.82%. Gender was not significantly associated with absconding, although 61.19% of those who absconded were @entity1 diagnosed with @entity161 . Over half of acute care @entity1 who absconded left during their first 21-day detention order. More than half of absconding events were by @entity1 that absconded more than once. There was limited support for the efficacy of locking ward doors. Age and diagnosis emerged as particularly important factors to consider. DISCUSSION: The study revealed that @entity1 are not more likely to abscond than @entity1 , that locking ward doors does not deter the determined absconders and that once a @entity1 has absconded, they are more likely to do so again. Younger @entity1 and those with a @entity161 may be particularly likely to abscond. There also appears to be a link between continuing detention orders and an absconding event. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide new data about the profile of absconding @entity1 in Australia. Exploration of the reasons why @entity1 abscond and why many do so repeatedly warrants further investigation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Risk management approaches taking into account factors associated with absconding could be trialled to reduce the incidence of absconding in @entity146 inpatient settings.
