Experience of admission and readmission to the emergency department for patients with acute abdominal pain: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints when patients are admitted to emergency departments (ED). Unfortunately, many of these patients are readmitted to the ED shortly after initial discharge. The perspectives of these patients have not yet been explored.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to explore how patients readmitted with acute abdominal pain in the ED experienced their initial admission, the time after discharge, and the cause of readmission.

METHODS: The study had a qualitative explorative design with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Semi-structured individual telephone interviews were conducted with 14 patients readmitted with acute abdominal pain.

RESULTS: The analysis showed four themes: 1) being vulnerable during hospitalisation, 2) the meaning of information during hospitalisation, 3) discharged without being diagnosed, and 4) readmitted in the pursuit of relief. The patients wanted more knowledge and better communication despite their vulnerable condition. Patients were discharged whilst still in pain, and uncertainty of the situation at home contributed to mistrust of the health professionals.

CONCLUSION: Patients' experience of the first ED admission due to acute abdominal pain was loneliness, minimal contact with healthcare professionals, and lack of information and involvement in pain management. Discharge was associated with feelings of insignificance and contributed to a fear of death. Pain was the main reason for readmission. Patients described how multiple readmissions contributed to being taken seriously by healthcare professionals.